Yongle Emperor's grandson: Zhu Yuanzhang with cheats, Zhu Di went crazy

Chapter 205: Brother-in-law is coming
"Da da da……"

Fierce gunfire rang out at the testing ground, and bullets hit the targets, making puffing sounds.

The Maxim heavy machine gun was aiming at a wild boar that was running around. At this time, it had been shot into a sieve and no pig shape could be seen.

"Kakaka..."

With the sound of the needle hitting empty air, the shooter released his hand reluctantly.

As a veteran of the Shenji Battalion, he loved this thing very much.

Being violent and ferocious, it is a natural killer weapon born for the battlefield.

If they had such ferocious weapons when they accompanied Your Majesty on the northern expedition, those barbarians from the grassland would have already knelt on the ground crying for their parents.

“How many bullets can be produced in a day now?”

Zhu Zhanjun put down the grease gun in his hand and asked Xu Shou beside him.

"I can mix some smokeless powder and mercuric fulminate when I'm free, but the standard of the shells is too high."

"We don't have high-end machine tools at the moment, so we can only rely on our craftsmen's experience and the help of machines to manufacture bullets, and we can only produce a few dozen bullets a day."

“And we can’t guarantee that all of them can be used.”

Zhu Zhanjun sighed, put the imitation Browning 1919 pistol into the holster and hung it around his waist.

Then, without saying a word, Xu Shou put the remaining dozens of bullets into his pocket.

"There is no need to rush. With the theoretical foundation and drawings, we can manufacture it at any time when the industry reaches the level in the future."

"You can just play with it when you are free. You don't need to spend time on it."

Xu Shou nodded.

In fact, even if Zhu Zhanjun didn't explain it, he wouldn't have put too much thought into it.

This kind of weapon, which cannot be mass-produced and can only be made by hand, is not what Ming Dynasty needs at the moment.

These guns were built primarily for experimentation, data collection, and finalization of drawings.

Now that it has been confirmed, he doesn't need to put too much thought into these things. He can just let the craftsmen in charge make them for fun when they have nothing to do.

"By the way, bring me some human-powered generators, wires, and light bulbs. I'll install them when I get back, so the old man won't have to nag me every day."

Xu Shou smiled and waved to the side, and a carriage was pulled over.

He had prepared the things long ago.

But it is not steam-generated electricity, it requires human power.

But it doesn’t matter to the imperial palace, because the thing it has the most is manpower.

After explaining some other things, Zhu Zhanjun got on the carriage and returned to the palace under the protection of the guards.

He did not go to the Eastern Palace first, but went to Empress Xu.

Before he reached the place, Zhu Zhanjun heard a burst of laughter from inside.

"Why is it so lively today?"

As soon as he entered Kunning Palace, he saw Empress Xu, Zhang, his young wife Huo Wenxiu, and Zhu Zhanji's childhood sweetheart Sun, sitting at the table and chatting and laughing.

"Greetings to His Majesty the Grand Sun!"

Sun and Huo Wenxiu quickly stood up and saluted.

Huo Wenxiu blushed even more and nervously held the handkerchief in her hand.

Zhu Zhanjun nodded to the two girls and came to the table.

“So they were playing cards.”

Zhang and others were playing cards, which was a very popular game during the Ming Dynasty, and was somewhat similar to mahjong.

When Zhu Zhanjun thought of mahjong, he wanted to play it later to entertain these women.

"Since you have nothing to do, just ask your mother to bring the two girls over to sit and play for a while."

Seeing her grandson, Empress Xu's face was full of smiles.

Seeing Zhu Zhanjun calling a few young eunuchs to move things from the carriage, he asked curiously:
"What's new about this?"

Hearing that there was something new, the women stopped playing cards and walked over curiously.

"This is the most advanced technology of our Ming Dynasty, and it is also a groundbreaking item."

"I've shown them to Grandpa and the others today. These are some samples. They've been sitting in the warehouse collecting dust, so I want to bring them to the palace and show them to you, Grandma."

While Zhu Zhanjun was directing the eunuchs to work, he was also explaining to the four women behind him.

Under Zhu Zhanjun's command, the generator and simple battery were placed in a separate room.

The battery was invented by Zhu Zhanjun and Xu Shou and others in a simple way.

Zhu Zhanjun may not understand other electrical appliances, but he knows something about batteries.

He has watched a lot of videos about Pakistani car repairs, watching one a day over the years, and has also watched a lot of videos about battery refurbishment.

The electric wires were fixed to the beams with hooks and passed all the way through.

This happened only in the Ming Dynasty. If it happened in later times, countless people would have scolded Zhu Zhanjun for destroying cultural relics.

Isn't it?

Any object taken out from the whole house would become an amazing artifact in the future, even a pillar.

When the eunuchs couldn't handle some delicate tools, Zhu Zhanjun would do it himself.

The four women followed and watched curiously.

The arrangement is very simple, just a wire connected to the light bulb.

Half an hour later, Zhu Zhanjun came down from the ladder and brushed the dust off his hands.

Huo Wenxiu, who was standing next to him, quickly handed over a wet towel.

Zhu Zhanjun took it, smiled at him, and wiped the dust off his hands.

"Is this good?"

Zhang asked with some confusion.

Empress Xu stared at the light bulb, then looked at the glass nailed to the window, and asked in confusion: "Isn't this a glass ball? You sent a lot of these things, and the palace is not short of them. And why is this hanging on the beam?"

"Grandma, this is not an ordinary glass ball."

Zhu Zhanjun explained and shouted to the power supply room next to him: "It's OK."

Several eunuchs who had been instructed by Zhu Zhanjun long ago turned the handle vigorously according to Zhu Zhanjun's instructions. Zhu Zhanjun waited for a while, walked to the switch he had specially reserved, and pushed it upwards vigorously.

"Crack!"

With a click, the four women and the young palace maids and eunuchs in the room all widened their eyes.

"Oh my god, it actually lights up."

Zhang covered her mouth in surprise, unable to understand how this glass ball could glow so brightly, brighter than a lamp.

"This is an electric light, a new type of lighting tool. It doesn't require burning oil or wax. It stays lit as long as there's electricity."

But after he finished explaining, he found that the women didn't even look at him. They stood under the hanging light bulbs, pointing and talking curiously.

Zhu Zhanjun shook his head and didn't bother him. He turned around and went back to the East Palace to install one in his father and mother's room.

"Your Highness."

But just as he went out, a soft call came from behind him.

Zhu Zhanjun looked back and saw his lovely wife Huo Wenxiu chasing after him with a blushing face.

Zhu Zhanjun looked at the beauty with a smile and asked, "What's wrong? Is there something wrong? Do you want to install one too? I just happen to have an extra one. I'll go to your room and install it for you later."

Huo Wenxiu pursed her lips and shook her head. After hesitating for a moment, she came over and whispered, "It's not about this. It's... "

The little girl talked for a long time but didn't say anything else, her face full of confusion.

Zhu Zhanjun stretched out his hand and grabbed the other's soft hand, and Huo Wenxiu's body stiffened instantly.

"Just tell me what you want. I'll do my best to help you if I can."

Huo Wenxiu pursed her red lips, and after a long while she made up her mind, she said, "It's about my brother."

Zhu Zhanjun's eyes moved, but the gentle smile on his face remained unchanged. He waited quietly for the other party's next words.

Seeing that Zhu Zhanjun's expression did not change, Huo Wenxiu plucked up his courage and said, "My brother had a conflict with my father. He sent me a letter some time ago, wanting to come to the capital."

Zhu Zhanjun suddenly understood.

It should be my eldest brother-in-law who, seeing that his sister was chosen as the Crown Prince's Consort, wanted to come to the capital to seek refuge and make a future for himself.

After pondering for a while, Zhu Zhanjun said, "Okay, let him come over. I'll meet him and see how to make arrangements."

Huo Wenxiu secretly breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Zhu Zhanjun with a blushing face as he was still holding her soft hand.

Zhu Zhanjun took his hand back without blushing or panting, and nodded to his little wife: "You continue to play with grandma and mother. I will go back to the East Palace to install the light bulb, and then go to your place to install one."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Huo Wenxiu responded with a blushing face, turned around and walked quickly into the house.

When she reached the door, she couldn't help but look back again, and her eyes met Zhu Zhanjun's. She shyly withdrew her gaze.

Looking at his little wife who shyly ran into the house, Zhu Zhanjun chuckled, hummed a little tune happily and went to the East Palace to install the remaining light bulb wires.

After returning to Jinling, Zhu Zhanjun fell into busyness again.

Either he helps the old man review memorials in the palace, or he goes to Tiangong Workshop to study things with a group of craftsmen, or he goes to the academy to give lectures to children about new things.

Occasionally, he would take some time out to go out for outings and hunting with his young wife, Huo Wenxiu, to cultivate their relationship.

This year, areas such as Fengyang in the south of the Yangtze River have had a bumper harvest of corn, potatoes and sweet potatoes.

After several years of cultivation, people have become familiar with this high-yield crop.

It is also understood that if the seeds of these high-yield crops are not purchased from the Veterans Chamber of Commerce, no matter how well they are planted in the second year, there will be no harvest.

After knowing the reason, those officials in the court who were worried stopped making trouble.

They knew in their hearts that this technology was the basis for Zhu Zhanjun to stabilize his position and he would never give it up easily.

It is precisely for this reason that some officials in the court were very dissatisfied with this and whenever they had nothing to do, they would find fault with the Veterans Chamber of Commerce and Zhu Zhanjun.

Zhu Zhanjun was too lazy to pay attention to them. Let them impeach him if they wanted. Anyway, the old man and his father would send the impeachment memorials to him.

Even if it is not sent here, it will be sent directly to the woodshed to be burned as firewood. It will be useless for these people to make trouble.

Zhu Zhanjun still followed his plan and promoted high-yield grain only among military households, and those who joined the Veterans Chamber of Commerce.

With the huge number of military households joining, the strength of the Veterans Chamber of Commerce has become a terrifying existence.

To use a phrase from the officialdom, the most powerful military force in the Ming Dynasty today is not the Five Military Governorates, nor the Ministry of War, but the Veterans Chamber of Commerce.

The Five Military Commanders' Office only had the power to command wars, and the Ministry of War only had the power to mobilize troops. The two checked and balanced each other.

But the Veterans Chamber of Commerce is different. They recruit those military households who are idle at home or have retired from the army due to disability.

If one person joins, the whole family will be included in the benefits. The Veterans Chamber of Commerce provides high welfare benefits every year, plus assistance in high-yield grain.

The Chamber of Commerce’s reputation among military households almost surpassed that of the imperial court.

If the Veterans Chamber of Commerce had not been a force under Zhu Zhanjun, such an encroaching force would have been wiped out by the imperial court long ago.

The eleventh year of Yongle passed quietly, and the new year came again.

The old man held a reunion dinner in the palace, and all the royal family members in Beijing gathered together.

Everyone was eating, chatting, and watching singing and dancing. The atmosphere was very harmonious.

However, Zhu Zhanjun did not participate in it. He would not forget that he would have a special talent joining him every year.

After a simple reunion dinner, Zhu Zhanjun found an excuse and went to the palace where he rested.

After a simple wash, Zhu Zhanjun lay down on the bed, looking forward to who would come this year.

Not just the people sent by the New Year space tonight.

As for Kangxi, Napoleon, and Zhu Yuanzhang, they all need to be summoned once according to the agreement.

At least four talented people will come this time. If he is lucky, they are all guards, and the strength of his army will increase a bit.

As he was thinking, Zhu Zhanjun fell into a deep sleep and entered the lotus space in a daze.

For some reason, Zhu Zhanjun always felt that the lotus was particularly beautiful tonight.

As Zhu Zhanjun approached, the lotus slowly unfolded, revealing a human figure.

The figure was wearing a general's armor, but his face looked like that of a teenager.

The young man has sharp eyes, handsome looks, and an indescribable pride and nobility.

Behind this young man, there seemed to be a vast grassland, and a cavalry unit was standing quietly behind him.

Under Zhu Zhanjun's gaze, the young general saluted Zhu Zhanjun, and with the picture behind him, he turned into a point of light and disappeared.

(End of this chapter)