The Ming Dynasty did not revolutionize

Chapter 175 The Decision of the Duke of Min and His Son
On the 17th day of the first lunar month in the 42nd year of the Ming Dynasty's Xianning reign, Zhu Jianxuan celebrated his 18th birthday in Wuwangdu, Australia.

The next morning, Zhu Jianxuan led his personal entourage and, with the farewell of the remaining officials such as Song Wendao, boarded the ironclad ship Yingzhou and set off northward.

The Yingzhou ironclad ship has a displacement of approximately 6,000 tons and is an improved version of the Australia that participated in Operation Red Sea.

Australia was rushed into service and did not wait for the mass production of 160mm naval guns. Instead, it was equipped with only twenty 80mm breech-loading rifled guns.

The biggest difference between Yingzhou and Australia is that it is equipped with eight 160mm breech-loading rifled guns, while the number of 80mm naval guns is reduced to sixteen.

The other two ships of the same type as Yingzhou, plus the original Australia, totaling four 6,000-ton ironclad ships, all participated in the Northern Expedition.

Then there were forty 1,500-ton steel battleships, including the Beihe.

Most of the subsequent steel battleships also had some improvements compared to the Beihe, mainly in terms of artillery production, with the number of artillery on each ship increased to sixteen.

Then there were 120 steam sailing ships of the Wu State, each of which had at least two 80mm breech-loading rifled guns.

All of the Wu State's warships and armed merchant ships were equipped with at least four 12mm heavy machine guns, and a certain number of 12mm sniper rifles and ordinary rifles.

Finally, there was the immigration fleet organized by the Ming Dynasty court, which consisted of a total of 560 steamships.

The entire fleet, carrying 220,000 army troops of Wu, sailed out of the port of Wuwangdu in a mighty manner.

After sailing on the sea for half a month, the large fleet passed Timor Island on February 2, the 42nd year of Xianning, and passed Luzon Island on February 12.

The news of King Wu's Northern Expedition, mainly the manifesto to fight against the Qing invaders, was sent to various parts of the Ming Dynasty half a month before Zhu Jianxuan set out.

Zhu Jianxuan had expected to encounter a fleet of warlords seeking death along the way, but in the end he was safe and sound throughout the journey.

Zhu Jianxuan came to the deck at the bow, looked at the endless fleet in front and behind, and couldn't help but shook his head and muttered to himself:
"Only a fool would come to harass such a large fleet...

“Even if the armed merchant ships have fewer guns, the total number of ships is too large.

"What's more, there are dozens of serious warships escorting us.

"These guys are lucky..."

Zhu Jianxuan sighed in his heart for a while, and then instructed Cao Zhendong who was following him:
"Arrange two steel clippers to go to Quanzhou to meet with Zheng Ruian, the prince of the Min Kingdom, and ask him and his father about their decision."

Cao Zhendong immediately agreed:

"As ordered."

Cao Zhendong and Zheng Ruian are relatively familiar with each other.

I know that Zheng Ruian has great respect for His Royal Highness the Prince of Wu, and has had very in-depth exchanges with His Royal Highness the Prince of Wu. He is very interested in the Northern Expedition and the reduction of the power of the princes.

In the past few years, the two sides have had continuous cooperation in Japan and the Red Sea.

In August last year, Zheng Ruian led the Min Guogong fleet and the land army back to Quanzhou.

After getting off the boat, Zheng Ruian immediately went to see his father Zheng Haikang.

Zheng Haikang, the Duke of Min, was also quite excited. When he saw his son, he asked eagerly:

"You are finally back. How is the situation in the Red Sea? Is everything going well? How many ships and people did we lose?"

Zheng Ruian said excitedly and proudly:

“Thanks to the support of His Royal Highness King Wu’s new soldiers, this operation went very smoothly.

"None of the enemy's strongholds could stop our attack.

“The army was invincible and unstoppable.

"There were almost no losses on the front lines, we didn't lose a single ship.

"The main casualties occurred after the frontal fighting ended, during the reorganization and suppression of local rebellions.

“Since the suppression of the rebellion was mainly the responsibility of the Japanese corps.

“So we have suffered almost no casualties, and the total casualties over the past three years are less than 3,000.

“More than half of the cases are caused by acclimatization.

"Now the entire coastline of East Africa and North Africa, the entire coastline of the Red Sea and the Arabian Peninsula, are now the territory of the Wu Kingdom.

“It is expected that in three years at most, the canal connecting the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea will be completed.

"When the time comes, using steam sailing ships, it will only take more than a month to travel from our mainland to the Mediterranean, and more than two months to the east coast of North America."

Duke of Min Zheng Haikang was a little confused after hearing this, and he couldn't accept what his son said for the whole afternoon.

Duke of Min Zheng Haikang originally felt that if the Ming court took the initiative to command the main naval fleet, it should indeed be able to win a great victory and the battle should be relatively smooth.

But after listening to his son's words, Duke Min felt that this was going a little too smoothly:
"We didn't lose a single ship? The total casualties were less than 3,000? Isn't this casualty ratio too exaggerated?
"Oman in East Africa was at least a local tyrant, and the Ottoman Empire in the Mediterranean was one of the great powers in Europe.

"Even if the Ming Dynasty can gain an advantage, the gap shouldn't be this big, right?"

Zheng Ruian felt that a simple verbal explanation was troublesome, so he decided to use physical means to make his father realize the reality:

"Let's go to the shooting range. I'll show father His Royal Highness Prince Wu's new rifle, and then you'll understand why we were able to do so well."

Zheng Ruian specifically applied to King Wu and obtained two 12mm black powder bolt-action rifles and a matching 1,024 rounds of ammunition.

Zheng Ruian brought it back to Quanzhou with extreme care in a special wooden box.

At this time, he asked his guards to carry the box, and he took his curious father to the shooting range in the backyard.

Zheng Ruian ordered his men to clear the shooting range and placed the wooden box two hundred meters away from a row of targets.

Zheng Haikang, the Duke of Min, was also very familiar with all kinds of weapons. Looking at his son's arrangement, he said:

"The target is now 200 meters away, so a rifle should have a chance to hit it. So, is His Royal Highness King Wu's new rifle a rifle?"

Zheng Ruian opened the wooden box beside him and took out a rifle that was basically unworn:

"It's a rifle. A breech-loading rifle."

The Duke of Min said somewhat confusedly:
"Rifled guns are not rare. Europeans and Ottomans should have them too. They can't decide the outcome of a battle..."

At this time, Zheng Ruian pulled the bolt of the rifle and used the organized eight-round magazine to load eight bullets into the rifle's magazine.

The Duke of Min immediately noticed this peculiarity:
"Is this a breech-loading rifle? And it can hold eight rounds at a time?"

Then, in front of his father's astonished gaze, Zheng Ruian began to shoot with a very fast bolt pull, firing eight bullets in one breath.

In the billowing smoke produced by the black powder, Zheng Haikang, the Duke of Min, was completely stunned:
"In just half a minute, all eight bullets were used up! How is this possible!"

Zheng Ruian loaded eight bullets into the gun as quickly as possible, and then fired them all in one breath.

After this round of shooting, Zheng Ruian finally stopped, picked up the telescope, observed the target he was shooting at, and briefly reported to himself:
"Sixteen shots, twelve hits. What do you think, father?"

The Duke of Min, Zheng Haikang, finally came to his senses from the shock at this time, and immediately asked a very crucial question: "How many of these rifles does His Royal Highness the King of Wu have?"

Zheng Ruian seemed quite proud and said:
“His Royal Highness the King of Wu specially formed a separate rifle division using this rifle, and deployed three divisions in the North African battlefield.

“For traditional line infantry, facing the Wu Wang rifle division is like encountering a natural enemy.

"We often joke that line infantry fighting is like being shot in a line, and when they face this kind of rifle, they are really being shot in a line."

The Duke of Min fell into cognitive impairment again:

"How is this possible? I understand that rifles are highly accurate, and I also understand that breech-loaders have a high rate of fire, but the two cannot coexist.

“Unless you spare no expense, use the most advanced craftsmen, and craft it with meticulous care, just like the supplies used in the palace.

“It may be possible to make it that way, but the production volume cannot be guaranteed!

"Your Highness the King of Wu is capable of producing tens of thousands of these rifles?
"These 30,000 rifled infantry, plus tens of thousands of ordinary smoothbore musket soldiers, are enough to defeat the main force of any country."

Zheng Ruian smiled and said:
“I don’t know exactly how it was done, but His Royal Highness Prince Wu said that this was the result of meeting the industrial base standards.

“But what is directly related to our future is that His Royal Highness the King of Wu is likely to send troops to the north next year.

“I have decided to follow His Royal Highness the King of Wu, and I hope my father can order the Duke’s Mansion’s army to cooperate.

The Duke of Min felt like his brain was about to explode:

"Your Highness, Prince Wu... As a vassal king, you actually want to invade the Qing Dynasty?"

Zheng Ruian thought his father would refuse, and thought his father would keep asking questions incomprehensibly. As a vassal king, wasn't he worried about the reduction of vassal states corresponding to the Northern Expedition?
Zheng Ruian had already prepared his speech, wanting to convince his father that the Northern Expedition and the reduction of the feudal lords were the general trend of the world and could no longer be stopped.

If you actively participate now, you will be able to get better treatment in the future. If you still stubbornly continue to resist, you may end up with your property confiscated and your family exterminated.

But after saying a few words, Zheng Haikang, the Duke of Min, said very decisively and resolutely, even a little excitedly:
"Good! That's great! We, the Duke of Min, will follow His Royal Highness the King of Wu with all our strength and support His Royal Highness the King of Wu in his northern expedition to the Central Plains to recover his homeland and old capital!"

Zheng Ruian was startled:
"Ah, father, what are you talking about? Aren't you worried that after the Northern Expedition succeeds, His Royal Highness the King of Wu will continue to cooperate with the court to reduce the power of the vassal states?"

Duke Min said decisively:
"Of course I am afraid that His Royal Highness the King of Wu will cooperate with the imperial court to reduce the power of the vassal states, but simple fear cannot change the reality.

"Your Highness Prince Wu's Northern Expedition is a foregone conclusion. Not only can the lower vassal states not stop it, but the Qing Dynasty and the Ming Dynasty court can't stop it either.

“As you said, with these riflemen, His Royal Highness King Wu has become the natural enemy of all traditional armies.

“What we can do now is to seize the opportunity before us and strive for the highest possible status and wealth for the future.

“Didn’t you say that His Royal Highness the King of Wu supports the continued retention of vassal states overseas and supports the transfer of vassal states?

“Then you should follow His Royal Highness the King of Wu and strive to be transferred to North America in the future.

"The fiefdom will be the southernmost part of North America in the Qing Dynasty and the northernmost part of Spain in the future."

Zheng Ruian knew his father quite well, so he subconsciously asked:
"What did our expedition find there?"

Zheng Haikang looked around, then introduced it to his son in a complacent voice:
"We found gold—

“In the valley surrounded by mountains over there, there is a plain that is larger than the entire Dongfan Island.

"The local climate is also good, with plenty of rainfall and rivers at the foot of the mountain, which is very suitable for land reclamation and farming.

“There is also an excellent natural deep-water port at the entrance and exit of the canyon.

"Now nominally the northern border belongs to the Qing Dynasty, and most of the southern part belongs to Spain.

“If we want to get this land, we must rely on the support of the court.

"His Royal Highness the King of Wu admires you very much. If you can get the support of His Royal Highness the King of Wu, it means you have the support of the court."

Zheng Ruian was quite surprised by his father's discovery:
"Gold mines—did the Qing and Spanish discover them?"

Duke of Min, Zheng Haikang, was a little worried:

“It’s hard to say. The Spanish had no interest in that area originally, but after they drew the border with the Qing people, they began to pay more attention to it.

“Although the Qing Dynasty focused its attention on the Great Plains behind the Rocky Mountains, it did not stop exploring the southern border.

"It's only a matter of time before they both discover the gold mine, so we have to act fast."

Zheng Ruian nodded slowly:

"I understand."

The Duke of Min still seemed a little worried, and continued to instruct his son more directly:

"When you follow His Royal Highness the King of Wu, remember to advise His Royal Highness the King of Wu.

“After the Northern Expedition is victorious and the northern land is recaptured, do not hand it over directly to the court for management.

"Don't respond to Tianfu again, especially don't enter the city alone."

Zheng Ruian was a little confused now:
"why?"

After hearing his son's stupid question, Duke Min immediately felt that his reminder was correct, so he began to teach his son:

“The soldiers who participated in the Northern Expedition were Wu soldiers trained by His Majesty the King of Wu. Normally, His Majesty the King of Wu should reward them himself.

“If the King of Wu hands over the fruits of the Northern Expedition, that is, the land in the north, to the imperial court, how will His Majesty reward the soldiers who followed him?

"If the court were to reward them, how would Your Highness the King of Wu get along with the soldiers of Wu in the future?

“His Royal Highness the Prince of Wu is deeply favored by His Majesty and has always been a thorn in the side of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

“After His Royal Highness the King of Wu succeeds in his northern expedition, he will surely gain unparalleled popularity among the people again, and he and the Crown Prince will certainly become even more incompatible.

"The Emperor is now seventy years old and may pass away at any time.

"Even if His Royal Highness the King of Wu is willing to hand over the northern land, can His Royal Highness the Crown Prince just let it go?

"By that time, even if the Wu generals who are heading north to the Central Plains are willing to obey His Royal Highness, can His Royal Highness trust them?

“In fact, all the Wu soldiers who participated in the Northern Expedition would never allow His Royal Highness the King of Wu to hand over the results of the battle to the court.

“Only His Majesty the King of Wu can protect them and allow them to obtain the rewards they deserve.

“But after His Royal Highness the King of Wu did this, His Royal Highness the King of Wu, who ruled the Central Plains, Liaodong, Australia, and North America, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, who ruled the original lands of the Ming Dynasty.

"Who are the vassal states and who is the imperial court? Who should reduce the power of the vassal states?
"Have you realized that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is thirty years older than His Royal Highness the King of Wu, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's eldest son is ten years older than His Royal Highness the King of Wu."

Zheng Ruian was not really stupid, it was just that his thinking was not in line with this perspective. After his father's guidance, he quickly understood it.

Zheng Ruian felt that his father had not said something, and Zheng Ruian himself did not want to say it directly:
"I understand, I will keep my father's teachings in mind..."

(End of this chapter)