Water Margin begins as a captain in Yanggu County

Chapter 438 Ling Zhen, Ling Zhen, still Ling Zhen!
Inside the Chui Gong Hall, Ling Zhen reported, "Your Majesty, the thousand-pound iron cannon has finally been completed!"

The emperor was overjoyed and asked, "How big is the projectile? What is its range?"

Ling Zhen was clearly excited as well, saying, "Your Majesty, a projectile of three inches can be accurate within a range of about two li, and can reach as far as three li!"

"Has the shooting chart been completed?" Su Wu asked again, his words concise but his heart surging with excitement. He knew that the times were beginning to change, and that right here in this hall, the world was at a turning point.

The so-called firing table can be described as the aiming method of artillery, including elevation angles, propellant charge, and target distance—all of which are related in a specific way…

How are these correspondences obtained? Naturally, they are derived through numerous shooting experiments and calculations.

Then all this data is compiled into a table, and the gunner can immediately make a more accurate aim by referring to the table.

This is the aiming method within the field of view. If in the future artillery can shoot farther and beyond the field of view, then something else will be required: extremely standard map drawing.

When Ling Zhenneng came to report, he was already prepared. He immediately took out a small booklet from his pocket and presented it with both hands.

Su Wu took it and looked at it, sighing deeply. He had actually seen this before, but seeing it again evoked a truly indescribable emotion...

Su Wu kept saying, "Good, good, excellent!"

Ling Zhen felt relieved. The emperor's decrees had been constantly inquiring about and urging him on this matter, putting him under immense pressure. Today, he had finally succeeded...

But then the emperor asked, "Where are the cannons? Did you bring them?"

"Your Majesty, we are on the way. We can unload at the Bian River in three days!"

"Very good, very good..." The emperor kept saying yes, and then asked, "If we do our best, how many can we produce in a month?"

"Both Jingdong and Yanjing are operating at full capacity, with no expense spared. We can produce... about thirty doors a month!" Ling Zhen answered this question somewhat tentatively, feeling a little guilty.

The emperor simply said, "Not enough, far from enough!"

“If we add more manpower and open a few more blast furnaces and molds, we might be able to build forty!” Ling Zhen replied, frowning as he did so.

The emperor shook his head and waved his hands, saying, "It's still not enough, far from enough..."

Forty courses a month, that's only four hundred and eighty courses a year. How is that enough?

Where would Su Wu have spent so many years?
But Ling Zhen, trembling with fear, said, "I will obey His Majesty's orders!"

"Don't worry, it's like this. Actually, I'm quite satisfied with the number you mentioned, but I still have plans regarding artillery, so this number is too small. It's not my fault, but you need to build at least one hundred of these cannons a month. As for money, supplies, and manpower, just ask. I'll give you as many as you need, as long as you reach this number and the quality is flawless! I don't expect you to reach this number next month. I'll give you time; reach this number in three months..."

Su Wu knew how difficult it was to make cannons; even transporting the raw materials was a huge undertaking.

Ling Zhen felt much more at ease and nodded, "Your Majesty, rest assured, I will do my utmost!"

"Furthermore... the construction in Yanjing has been halted, and all personnel involved have been sent to Jingdong. Not a single one can be missing. From now on, cannons can only be manufactured in Jingdong. All gunpowder and cannon workshops have been moved to Liangshan stronghold. If there is not enough space, they will be expanded to the north. This stronghold must be strictly guarded. All personnel will receive a higher monthly wage, but they must all be registered and strictly controlled. No secrets may be leaked! Anyone who leaks secrets will be executed immediately. You must also draft a confidentiality agreement for me to review."

Su Wu had thought far ahead about this matter; if the craftsman leaked the secret, he would truly be beheaded!
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Ling Zhen's heart leaped into his throat again.

"There's one more thing. A 1,000-jin cannon is just the beginning. We also need a 2,000-jin cannon. You must continue to test it. This matter cannot be delayed. Another thing is the hand cannon. I've mentioned it to you before. A hand cannon that is fired from the shoulder can be used by infantry in battle. It's lightweight and easy to use. This thing cannot be delayed either. We must also try to make it!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Ling Zhen nodded repeatedly; he had become numb from having so many chores to do.

Su Wu said little, only saying, "Go quickly and tell me how many men you need, how much money and food you need, how Jingdong will cooperate with you, how much the monthly expenses will be, and the confidentiality agreement. All these things must be written down and sent over. In addition, Jingdong will allocate another army to be responsible for the defense of Liangshan."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Ling Zhen bowed and quickly withdrew. Countless tasks awaited him, and even the various written matters would require countless days and nights of work.

Before leaving, Su Wu added, "The cannons have arrived. Report this immediately, as I wish to personally inspect the military camp outside the city!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Ling Zhen had already reached the door, bowed again, and then stepped back.

Su Wu had something to say but didn't, and Ling Zhen had work to do, which would be soon.

Su Wu immediately sent someone to summon Lu Junyi.

Lu Junyi has recently settled down in Beijing, which serves as a place to stay. Soon, he will be going to Mizhou to continue his work.

After Su Wu summoned the man, he immediately got to the point: "Brother, has the Mizhou Shipyard started operating yet?"

"Your Majesty, shipbuilding can now begin. We've moved some of the shipyards and craftsmen from Jeju Island, and recruited some more from Guangzhou and Quanzhou. The ships we're building now are truly quite impressive..."

Lu Junyi also had to report on his work. Ever since he first crossed the Bohai Sea with Su Wu, he had been helping Su Wu with the maritime trade fleet, and thus he was in charge of the fleet's work.

Su Wu had arranged for shipbuilding in Mizhou in the past. Mizhou was one of the four major maritime trade offices. Although it was the smallest of the four major maritime trade offices, it was obviously a very good place.

North of Mizhou lies Jiaozhou Bay, which is near Qingdao. It's a perfect location for the shipbuilding industry.

And it's not far from Dongping Prefecture, so what is Su Wu going to do?
The industrial layout of large ships and cannons: cannons are produced here, large ships are produced there, cannons are loaded onto large ships, and they can roam the oceans freely.

Su Wu then said, "We need to design a new kind of ship. It needs to be large, fast, with a strong keel, a long and narrow hull, and as many sails as possible so that it can travel fast. It should be divided into several decks, and each deck should have an opening..."

"Speak up?" Lu Junyi was naturally puzzled.

Su Wu simply said, “There is a huge firearm, weighing a thousand or even two thousand catties. This giant cannon must be placed on the ground and densely packed together, making it invincible in naval warfare.”

"Oh..." Lu Junyi understood the general idea, and then asked, "What does this thing look like? How does it work?"

Su Wu rarely offered explanations, so he said, "Go find Ling Zhen and have him talk to you... in detail. Make sure you understand everything. It would be best to also find the shipbuilders and talk to them as well. Discuss carefully how to make the ship run fast, with a strong hull and keel, and how to accommodate more cannons and muskets. Also, consider the living quarters for the crew... Go quickly..."

This was another task that Su Wu arranged for Ling Zhen, but it wasn't over yet; there was one more!
Lu Junyi only had a vague understanding, so he bowed and left, then quickly went to find Ling Zhen.

A moment later, Cheng Hao arrived.

Before Cheng Hao could even offer his greetings, Su Wu declared, "We must build a new martial arts academy!"

Upon hearing this, Cheng Hao felt a wave of dizziness, but still asked, "Where is Your Majesty's new school located? How big will it be? How many teachers will be needed? Where will the teachers come from...?"

Su Wu raised his hand: "This is much simpler than the previous one. In Dongping Prefecture, find a deserted place, preferably with a mountain behind it, or somewhere between two mountains. Isn't Fan Yun back in Dongping Prefecture? Let Fan Yun handle this now. Postpone his trip to the accelerated training school. He will be in charge of this matter. This school will be named the Artillery Training School. Select from the various units in the eastern capital... First, select one thousand strong soldiers, preferably quick-witted and literate, and quickly bring them under Fan Yun's command. Choose a location for the residence and training ground."

In the past, soldiers in Jingdong were mostly recruited from good families, and among those good families, there were actually quite a few who could read and write.

"Artillery training school?" Cheng Hao had never heard of it before.

Su Wu waved his hand and said, "Go find Ling Zhen and discuss this matter. Find out all the details. Also, have Ling Zhen send some of his craftsmen to the school as instructors. This artillery training school should be a crash course, with students rotating every two months. Those who excel in many subjects among the first batch of students can stay as instructors... That way, it will be up and running. You are responsible for handling the finances, food, and liaison with various government offices!"

Ling Zhen, Ling Zhen, still Ling Zhen!
"Looking for Ling Zhen? I understand, I will go immediately..." Cheng Hao bowed and then withdrew.

Su Wu was suddenly in a great mood. He got up from his seat, looked around, asked about the time (it was lunchtime), and then headed to Yanfu Palace.

Along the way, Su Wu hummed a little tune. This matter has been going on for so long, how difficult it must be.
Finally, things are on the right track. Once things are on the right track, everything is different. We've asked Goryeo and Japan, as they are the closest to each other. After ten years of honing our skills, we're ready to test our sharpness.

Let's start with Goryeo. Goryeo is guilty; it disobeys its superior nation. Great Yan has been waiting for so long, yet Goryeo's envoys haven't arrived. What's the reason for this?
How could a superior nation not punish such a crime?
Of course, Su Wu would never again lead an army in person.

Back at Yanfu Palace, Cheng Xiaoniang had already arranged for food to be prepared. It was rare for Su Wu to come back for a meal today, so there was no need to send it to the main hall. The family could then enjoy a happy meal together.

My daughter and son, one can talk a lot now, and the other can walk and run...

Holding one on each side, they sat on Su Wu's laps, and began to imagine what kind of country they would have when they grew up...

Su Wu smiled and said, "Three days from now, let's go on a trip, as a family!"

Cheng Xiaoniang thought she had misheard and was momentarily stunned!
Meng Yulou looked up and around, as if afraid that she had just imagined it.

Third Sister asked, "Your Majesty, where are you going on this trip?"

Su Wu pointed and said, "Outside the city, let's leave the city!"

You heard right, Cheng Xiaoniang suddenly burst into tears, turned her head away to hide, and secretly wiped them away.

But Su Wu still noticed: "Why is that? How can you not be happy while traveling?"

Why?

Married for so long, Su Wu and I have spent very little time together. Even when we do get together, Su Wu is always busy taking care of me. We've never had a chance to go on a trip together.
Let alone traveling, they rarely even spend time together.

At this moment, Cheng Xiaoniang deliberately turned to a smile and said, "The last time His Majesty went on an outing was when he used me as bait to capture thieves!"

"Huh?" Su Wu was taken aback. Was that a trip?
Of course, Su Wu knew that Cheng Xiaoniang was joking, but he also revealed a fact: the two of them had never traveled together...

Su Wu's expression darkened slightly: "My wife..."

Cheng Xiaoniang quickly replied, "It's alright, it's alright. His Majesty is busy with countless affairs of state, but now it seems he can finally have some free time... I'm overjoyed!"

Even Meng Yulou and Hu Sanniang, who were standing to the side, had smiles on their faces, as if they were looking forward to it.

These words made Su Wu feel even more ashamed...

What kind of trip?
Su Wu saw his son and remembered that in three days they would be going to the military camp outside the city to practice artillery. He wanted his son to get to know artillery beforehand and cultivate his son's interest in it...

The idea of ​​large warships and heavy artillery must be passed down from generation to generation, and there must be no wavering in it.

So, Su Wu casually mentioned going on a trip; how could he really mean taking his wife and children on a spring outing?
Feeling deeply ashamed, Su Wu suddenly asked, "Hey, have you all been to Genyue?"

Cheng Xiaoniang nodded: "I've been there, more than once. It's truly wonderful. Every step reveals a new scene, and each scene offers a unique perspective. It's breathtakingly beautiful and makes one reluctant to leave!"

“Yes, it’s truly beautiful. I’ve never seen so many wonders and elegance before…” Meng Yulou said.

Hu Sanniang retorted, "It is beautiful, but ultimately it is the work of human hands, not the creation of nature..."

Su Wu laughed upon hearing this, and said, "Alright then, let's really go on the trip..."

After dinner, hurry up and make arrangements. The emperor's trip is going to be a huge hassle.

Where to go?
The area surrounding Bianjing (Kaifeng) actually has few natural landscapes; it's mostly just rows and rows of fields...

The main problem is that Su Wu can't go too far; he doesn't have the time...

Three days later, it will be the sixth day of the Lunar New Year, which is not yet the time for families to go out...

Suddenly, Su Wu had a brilliant plan that would allow his family to have a truly happy time without having to mobilize a large force, and would also save time...

But it still needs to be arranged...

After finishing their meal, they summoned Li Cheng and secretly arranged the trip three days later.

Then came official business. Su Wu had to oversee the grading of the examination papers. The results should be released on the fifteenth of the first lunar month, ideally on the fourteenth, so that those who passed could enjoy a wonderful Lantern Festival instead of one filled with anxiety.

If they truly had a "Road filled with the fragrance of fine carriages and the sight of fish and dragons dancing all night," they would also inevitably have a "Riding on the spring breeze, galloping on horseback, seeing all the flowers of Chang'an in a single day."

It also allows those who failed the exam to enjoy the holiday in peace, indulging in drinking and merrymaking, and letting loose and having a good time...

Su Wu even thought that he should give ten strings of cash to each person who failed the exam, as a favor from the emperor, to help them return home or to pay for the wine the next day.

In this country, everyone's life should have its own brilliance; only then can it be a good country.

Grading papers...

A large pile of selected exam papers was laid out in front of Su Wu...

Su Wu examined each page one by one. Suddenly, his expression changed, and he asked, "Which student wrote this?"

As soon as someone came forward, he immediately took the copied exam paper and compared it with the original exam paper. He returned a moment later and replied, "Your Majesty, this is Zhang Jiucheng from Kaifeng!"

"Alright, put it on the list!" Su Wu was genuinely pleased. This person not only possessed philosophical insights, but also had extremely insightful views on the cultural lineage spanning four thousand years.

Moreover, these people, their writing is expansive and bold, their words are upright and powerful, and when discussing culture, they also emphasize the matter of war!
This person had profound insights into the relationship between war and culture, and between war and national development, and even shared some similarities with Su Wu.

At this point, Su Wu was already somewhat determined to be number one in the imperial examination, but that was something he would do during the palace examination.

Su Wu took a liking to this man and decided to take him under his wing. He would personally train the new generation of officials starting with him.

Su Wu asked one more question: "How old is this man?"

I'm just afraid this person is getting old!
Thirty-five!

He's not old; he's at the age where he should be mature and experienced. He must have gone through a lot in life. If he's truly satisfied in the future, he'll be promoted quickly and will be able to keep things under control.

Su Wu was extremely satisfied, but he did not know that this person was a famous minister of the Southern Song Dynasty, the top scholar in the imperial examination, one of the pro-war faction who was extremely opposed to Qin Hui, and an extremely upright and incorruptible person.

Was the imperial examination system good? Absolutely!
Su Wu was in an exceptionally good mood today.

After returning from the examination hall, Su Wu even sent someone to invite people to drink with him. A small banquet was to be held in the imperial city tonight...

They were so busy that they ended up hosting a huge banquet, with takeout being ordered from all over Bianjing (Kaifeng).

It was on a whim that Su Wu added to the list again and again, calling out everyone in the capital...

Just look at the side gates; cars and horses are flowing like water and dragons, all rushing to get through, making it impossible to move...

(End of this chapter)