Ming Dynasty: A mere unruly commoner is rebelling against the heaven?

Chapter 237 Research technology and reward the troops!

Jia Jun looked at the drawings and looked a little nervous at first.

But soon his expression turned into surprise, and his look was full of joy.

The content of the drawings completely attracted him, and he couldn't help but indulge in it, and he was eager to read it all in one go.

Zhu Youtang waited patiently for a while, and seeing that Jia Jun had been looking at it endlessly, he could not help but interrupt and asked: "How about it, can you make these things on the drawings for me?"

Jia Jun suddenly came back to his senses, his whole body shaking with excitement.

"Your Majesty, the principle of this flintlock rifle is not difficult. It is just an upgrade and modification based on the existing fire gun. It only takes me half a month to get the Ministry of Works to manufacture the first batch of flintlock rifles."

"Gunpowder and bullets have blueprints for reference, so it's not difficult to improve them."

"It's just that this steelmaking method is really advanced. Many of the substances involved are things I have never even heard of."

"Whether we can successfully refine this new type of steel requires organizing manpower and putting it into practice."

"If we can really produce the new type of steel described in this blueprint, the entire Ming Dynasty will undergo earth-shaking changes!"

"If this steel can be used to make flintlock rifles, red-coated cannons, arrowheads, and blades... the military strength of the Ming Dynasty will definitely be taken to a higher level."

"If it can be used in civilian facilities... the changes it will bring will be limitless!"

In the Ming Dynasty’s officialdom, Jinshi were particularly valued.

So far, in the more than 100 years of history of the Ming Dynasty, all those who could become first- or second-rank officials in the court and become ministers of the six ministries were Jinshi.

Only one person broke this record and became the first person in the Ming Dynasty to serve as the Minister of One of the Six Ministries from a Juren.

This person is Jia Jun.

Jia Jun served as the Minister of Works for eight years. He was in charge of engineering duties and was very proficient in tools and construction.

And since Zhu Youtang gave Jia Jun a beating last time, Jia Jun has been behaving very well during this period of time.

The drawings that Zhu Youtang gave to Jia Jun only included three things: steelmaking, musketry and gunpowder technology.

Jia Jun had a sharp eye and could tell at a glance that the most important technology was this new steelmaking technique.

At the same time, they have also begun to think about what kind of changes will be brought to the Ming Dynasty after the new type of steel is really refined.

Zhu Youtang nodded and ordered Jia Jun: "Okay, from today on, the Ministry of Industry will focus on studying the steelmaking technology above."

"Immediately mobilize 1,000 skilled craftsmen from all over the country and allocate 1 million taels of silver from the imperial treasury to fully research the forging technology of new steel."

"If we need people, we will provide them. If we need silver, we will provide silver. No matter what the cost, we must fully master the technology of refining new steel in the shortest possible time."

"Then use the new steel to make a new batch of weapons."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

The conditions offered by Zhu Youtang were really too generous. He provided people and silver, and supported the Ministry of Industry at all costs to research this new steelmaking technology.

Jia Jun was very excited by such great support.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Seeing Jia Jun's overjoyed expression, Zhu Youtang increased the intensity of Jia Jun's attack.

"Now I have given you the craftsmen and the silver. I will give your Ministry of Works one month."

"If the Ministry of Industry has not made any progress in a month, I will hold you accountable!"

This immediately calmed Jia Jun's excited heart.

In addition to joy, Jia Jun also felt tremendous pressure.

One month is neither long nor short.

It seems that their Ministry of Industry will be very busy this month.

"Yes, I obey your command!"

After Jia Jun received the order, Zhu Youtang looked at him again before picking up the teacup and sending Jia Jun away.

"Okay, take my order and go to the treasury to withdraw money."

"Yes, Your Majesty. I will take my leave."

Before leaving the Yangxin Palace, Jia Jun still couldn't help but feel admiration and love for the talent in his heart.

He really wanted to talk to the author of the drawing in person and discuss matters concerning the Ministry of Industry.

Jia Jun asked Zhu Youtang cautiously, "Your Majesty, I would like to ask you a question. Who created this advanced blueprint?"

"Such a talented person should work for the Ming Dynasty. If he can work in the Ministry of Industry, it will be a blessing for the entire Ming Dynasty!"

But Zhu Youtang just looked at him coldly and said, "Don't ask questions that you shouldn't ask."

Jia Jun was startled and nodded quickly, "Yes, yes, I am sorry for talking too much. I will take my leave now!"

Jia Jun hurriedly left the Yangxin Palace, but he still felt scared even after he was some distance away from it.

There is not much time, only one month.

He hurried back to the Ministry of Works with the information, and sent people to the treasury to withdraw silver, while also sending people to summon craftsmen.

From now on, the Ministry of Industry will enter a busy state, focusing on researching new steelmaking methods!
……

On the other hand, the inventory work of the West Factory was also coming to an end.

Wang Zhi led the Western Factory soldiers to investigate the more than 200,000 troops transferred by Yu Shen.

The investigation is mainly aimed at military officers, as ordinary soldiers are of too low a rank to be involved in the coup.

After eliminating some fence-sitters, Wang Zhi came to the Yangxin Palace to report.

"Your Majesty, the soldiers around the capital have been checked out."

"All disloyal people have been executed!"

Zhu Youtang raised his head from the memorial, looked at Wang Zhi and thought for a long time, and finally sighed and shook his head. Wang Zhi felt a little scared by Zhu Youtang's eyes, and didn't understand why Zhu Youtang looked at him like that.

"Your Majesty...what's wrong with you?"

"No, you have always been reliable in your work. I feel relieved to leave this matter to you."

"It's a pity that I can't use you as two people."

Just now, Zhu Youtang was looking at Wang Zhi, and was actually thinking about whether he should let Wang Zhi take charge of the task of building ships and sailing to the West.

It is a good idea to let Wang Zhi go to the West, but he is more needed in the capital, and Zhu Youtang cannot do without him.

Now the technology of steam engines and the upgrading technology of Zheng He's treasure ship are still in the hands of Zhu Youtang, and he has not told anyone.

These are the most advanced technologies that will be used only when we sail to the West.

What Zhu Youtang has been thinking about these days is how to restart the project of sailing to the West.

The most crucial thing is who will build the ship and who will lead the voyage to the West.

As for the resistance from civil servants, it was not within Zhu Youtang's consideration at all.

To put it simply, it’s just one sentence.

If gods stand in the way, they will kill gods; if they stand in the way of Buddha, they will kill Buddha!
Whoever dares to stop Zhu Youtang from sailing to the West, Zhu Youtang will exterminate that person's entire family!
After hearing Zhu Youtang's explanation, Wang Zhi felt relieved.

There are now nearly 400,000 troops around the capital.

Under normal circumstances, the capital city certainly does not need so many troops.

How to deploy these troops is a problem.

Zhu Youtang should also commend the expeditionary forces who returned from the northwest.

Zhu Youtang thought about it and gave the order: "In this case, the local militia, the grain transport troops and the Japanese soldiers that Yu Shen has transferred here should all be sent back to their hometowns."

"I will not pursue the silver that Yu Shen gave them. Just regard it as a reward from me."

"Each member of the Ming expeditionary force that went to the northwest will be rewarded with ten taels of silver, based on merit."

"For every person you kill, you will be rewarded an extra ounce of silver."

"If a person kills ten people cumulatively, he will be awarded fifty taels of silver by raising a small flag."

"If a total of 30 people are killed, the general flag will be raised and a reward of 100 taels of silver will be given."

"The first person to break through the enemy lines will be promoted to a hundred households and rewarded with three hundred taels of silver."

"Whoever kills the general and seizes the flag will be promoted to a thousand households and rewarded with five hundred taels of silver."

"The same is true for the Xianzhen Camp that accompanied me on my border patrol."

"As for the logistics troops, those who follow the Ming expeditionary army to the northwest will be rewarded with five strings of cash each."

"Everyone who follows me on my expedition will be rewarded 100 coins."

"Let the Western Factory distribute the silver tomorrow."

For the most ordinary people in the Ming Dynasty, neither silver nor banknotes were of any use to them.

The most commonly used currency in their daily lives is copper coins.

While Zhu Youtang was rewarding the three armies, he also gave money to the logistics troops...

For ordinary people in the army and the logistics troops, there was no better emperor than Zhu Youtang.

Before this, the people of the Ming Dynasty were conscripted to serve in the logistics troops, which was called corvée labor. Not only were they not paid a penny, they were also required to provide their own food.

Zhu Youtang not only provided them with food, but also gave them money, and a lot of it. Where could they find such a good emperor?

Next time there is a good job in the logistics department, they will not only not hide away, but will rush to take it!
Zhu Youtang's reward this time can be said to be generous.

This reward would require at least two million taels of silver.

But now, what Zhu Youtang lacks the least is silver.

Every time Zhu Youtang patrolled the border, he would plunder all the wealth accumulated by the border town generals over decades.

More than 37 million taels of silver were deposited into the treasury. Since the reign of Emperor Yongle, the Ming court had never been as wealthy as it is now.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

After Wang Zhi bowed and accepted the order, he passed it on to the army.

At the same time, Ma Jinzhong, the head of the Western Factory, was ordered to lead the Western Factory soldiers to go to the treasury to withdraw silver.

When the troops near the capital heard about Zhu Youtang's generous reward, the soldiers in the army were overjoyed and extremely happy.

They were so excited that they couldn't sleep all night and were eagerly waiting for the next day.

After finally getting through the night, when the sky was just getting light the next day, many soldiers got up and got ready.

At the hour of Mao in the morning, when the assembly horn sounded throughout the Xishan military camp, the excited soldiers gathered in an orderly manner on the parade ground.

In the distance, carriages loaded with silver kept driving into the parade ground and stopped next to the reviewing platform.

The soldiers stared at the silver with their eyes full of desire, and they were almost looking forward to it.

Gao Shun stood on the platform and shouted loudly: "All the soldiers should have known that His Majesty understands that it is not easy for us to go to war, and has specially issued an order to reward the three armies!"

"Your money is in front now. Whoever's name is called will come forward to receive it!"

"Your Majesty once said that we should not let the Ming soldiers shed blood and tears!"

"As long as you fight bravely on the battlefield, His Majesty will not treat you unfairly!"

With a wave of Gao Shun's hand, the guards from the Western Factory immediately removed the black cloth covering the silver.

In an instant, countless amounts of silver were exposed before the eyes of all the soldiers!

(End of this chapter)