Ming Dynasty: Ask Zhu Yuanzhang to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 334: Brutal Battle! Distortion and Sudden Change!
The Bullet Factory plays an important role in the Ming Dynasty.

However, located in the suburbs of the capital, this area was under the strict control of the Ming Dynasty court.

Normally, there would not be any unrest, so the guard force was not too strong.

But even so, the bullet factory still has a permanent guard team of a hundred people, and these soldiers are all equipped with muskets.

This kind of armed force should not be underestimated at the local level.

Ordinary thieves and bandits would not even dare to think of attacking when faced with such well-equipped guards.

Furthermore, the bullet factory is located in an industrial zone carefully planned and built by Zhu Yunhuan, and the surrounding security lines are extremely meticulous.

Once any abnormal situation occurs, the police patrolling nearby will be able to quickly detect it and rush to the scene immediately.

After a series of reorganizations and training, the current constables have a much higher level of force than before.

Compared with the past, their combat effectiveness has been significantly improved.

Moreover, there are internal guards stationed not far away. These internal guards are always on high alert and can respond quickly and provide support once they receive any news.

Combined with the factory's own defense capabilities, the three work together to form a security barrier as solid as an iron barrel.

It stands to reason that such a tight security system should not have any loopholes.

However, as the head of the Ministry of Justice, Zhu Gaoxu was still in his position even though the actual power within the Ministry had been undermined by the tacit agreement of everyone.

If one uses his authority recklessly, he will still be able to exercise some of the powers of the Ministry of Justice within a short period of time.

According to the regulations of the imperial court, the area around the bullet factory was under the jurisdiction of Yingtian Prefecture. Both the constables and the internal guards were directly commanded and dispatched by Yingtian Prefecture on weekdays.

However, since Zhu Yunhuan implemented the reform, the Internal Guards and the Constables have been under a dual management model, and the Ministry of Justice has also gained a certain degree of vertical management authority.

This was originally intended to prevent local forces from acting recklessly and to avoid excessive concentration of local power which would breed corruption and authoritarianism.

Unexpectedly, at this critical moment, Zhu Gaoxu had the opportunity to take advantage of it.

He knew in his heart that it was impossible to directly order these guards to join the rebellion.

Not to mention these people's loyalty to the court, just this blatant act of rebellion, once exposed, would be a heinous crime punishable by the execution of nine generations of the family. No one would be stupid enough to follow him.

But if he wanted to use the strategy of luring the tiger away from the mountain and temporarily transfer the nearby constables and internal guards, he still had a way to do it.

Therefore, Zhu Gaoxu, under the name of the Ministry of Justice, found some seemingly reasonable excuses and kept the nearby constables and internal guards away.

However, he also understood that this method could not last long and would only last for that day.

After all, truth will come out sooner or later, and it will inevitably arouse suspicion from others over time.

Zhu Gaoxu was confident that he had 3,000 soldiers. In his opinion, it should be easy to take down a bullet factory with only a hundred armed guards.

But will the facts really turn out as he wishes?

Although the bullet factory only has a hundred regular armed guards, there are actually more than that number of guns.

Just as gun factories need bullets to calibrate guns and test performance, bullet factories also need guns to test the quality and performance of bullets.

However, these guns used for testing are usually managed very strictly. They are all locked in special cabinets and guarded by dedicated personnel.

They are only taken out for use when the bullets are being tested, and are returned to the locker once the testing is complete.

But at this moment, the situation is critical and we can no longer care about these cumbersome rules.

All the test guns were immediately taken out and distributed to the workers who were responsible for testing bullets and knew how to use guns.

Although the number of these guns still seems a bit small compared to Zhu Gaoxu's 3,000 troops, it can also strengthen the guarding force a lot.

At the same time, Lu Youlin quickly called the workers to an emergency meeting, explained to them in detail the essentials of shooting, and taught them step by step how to use guns correctly.

This is to be on the safe side. If the guards are unfortunately killed in the battle, these workers will be able to take their place in time and continue to resist the foreign enemies.

Neither Li Boyue nor Lu Youlin came from a military background and had no practical experience in commanding troops in combat.

But some basic military knowledge and principles are still understood.

"Bang bang bang!"

"Bang bang bang!"

"Bang bang bang!"

……

For a moment, the sound of gunfire was deafening.

As soon as Zhu Gaoxu's troops approached, they were hit head-on by the guards of the bullet factory.

The guards hid inside the factory and continued shooting, taking advantage of their familiar terrain.

Although the 3,000 troops brought by Zhu Gaoxu had an absolute advantage in numbers, how could they withstand the repeated shooting from hundreds of muskets?
In just a few moments, hundreds of bodies were left in front of the factory, and the blood dyed the ground red.

Zhu Gaoxu was by no means an ordinary person. On the contrary, he was intelligent and meticulous. He was extremely concerned about military operations and put a lot of effort into studying them.

He knew very well that in a musket-shooting battle, unless the enemy had run out of bullets, or his own firepower could completely suppress the enemy.

Otherwise, launching a charge rashly would undoubtedly be an extremely stupid act that would only result in the loss of soldiers' lives.

However, time is running out and the bullet factory must be captured as quickly as possible.

So he gritted his teeth, decided to take a risk, and ordered his soldiers to charge.

But reality soon gave him a heavy slap in the face.

The charging team was instantly torn apart by the hail of bullets, suffering heavy casualties.

Seeing that this plan failed, Zhu Gaoxu had no choice but to change his strategy. He ordered the soldiers to stop charging, find cover on the spot, disperse, and engage in a firefight with the guards in the factory.

As a result, the war situation quickly fell into a stalemate and the two sides entered a stalemate.

Although the guards in the factory were small in number, they relied on their strong fortifications and familiar terrain to tenaciously resist Zhu Gaoxu's attack.

Under Lu Youlin's command, the workers gradually overcame their initial panic and began to participate in the battle in an orderly manner.

Although they had not received professional military training, they showed amazing courage and fighting spirit at the critical moment of life and death.

People kept falling down, and people kept picking up their guns and continuing to fight.

The blood soon dyed the entire Bullet Factory red!
The cruelty of hot weapons is highlighted at this moment.

People were shot everywhere, and some kept groaning until they died from bleeding.

……

Daming Palace.

Imperial Room.

Northeast corner.

There is a conveyor belt here that leads to the harem.

There is also a special kitchen in the harem of the Ming Dynasty Palace.

After all, there are a large number of people imprisoned in the harem, and someone is needed to be responsible for cooking meals.

Because the harem is quite large, some places are far away from the imperial kitchen.

Moreover, the harem is currently in a "confined" state. If the dishes are cooked in the imperial kitchen and then sent in, they will often become cold, so another kitchen is set up.

In the past, the vegetables, fruits and meat needed by the harem kitchen were all purchased and supplied by the imperial kitchen.

But since Zhu Yunhuan issued an order to confine everyone in the harem, the kitchen in the harem has been isolated from the outside world and is only connected by a series of special conveyor belts to transport various items.

Two eunuchs laboriously carried a tightly sealed basket with a lid and placed it heavily on the conveyor belt. "What is in this basket? Why is it so heavy? And why do I feel like it's moving?"

The younger eunuch raised his hand to wipe the beads of sweat from his forehead and spoke softly with a look of suspicion on his face.

"According to the palace rules, isn't it forbidden to bring living things in? Moreover, before bringing them in, the lid should be opened and inspected. It is really against the rules to seal it so tightly."

Since it was inconvenient to slaughter animals in the harem, living creatures such as pigs, sheep, chickens, ducks, and geese were always slaughtered and processed in the imperial kitchen before being sent to the harem.

And all items sent into the harem must undergo strict inspection.

"Speak up!"

Just as the young eunuch finished speaking, Sun Deying, the chief steward of the Imperial Kitchen, appeared beside him like a ghost. He had a gloomy face and shouted harshly.

"This is not your business to interfere in. Give me fifty slaps on the face!"

The young eunuch was so frightened that his face turned pale. His legs went limp and he fell to his knees with a plop. He kowtowed and begged for mercy: "I know I was wrong. I shouldn't have said anything. Please spare my life, Steward!"

As he spoke, he slapped himself left and right, using all his strength.

After a few slaps, both cheeks were swollen and blood oozed from the corners of his mouth. But he didn't dare to stop, and continued to slap her hard, muttering in a trembling voice: "I am guilty! I am guilty! I deserve to die! I deserve to die!"

Upon seeing this, the other eunuchs were so frightened that they fell silent, lowered their heads, and dared not even breathe.

Sun Deying looked around coldly, his eyes as chilling as the water in a cold pond:

"According to the palace rules, don't ask about things you shouldn't ask, and don't be curious about things you shouldn't be curious about."

"Since this is his first offense, we will give him a light punishment and let him go. If there are people who don't know the rules again, we will beat them to death. Do you understand?"

"I understand!" The eunuchs around hurriedly responded in unison, with deep fear in their voices.

Sun Deying nodded slightly, but did not leave immediately. Instead, he stared at the conveyor belt that was slowly starting.

Only after the sealed basket was sent deep into the harem did he slowly walk away with steady steps.

Returning to his resting place in the imperial kitchen, Sun Deying quickly closed the door and his expression changed immediately.

With a panicked look, he took out a stack of silver bills issued by the Ming Bank from his pocket.

These banknotes were given to him personally by King Zhu Su of Zhou.

Sun Deying sat on the bed in the room, his hands trembling slightly as he counted the twenty silver bills over and over again.

It seems that only in this way can the authenticity of this wealth be confirmed.

After a long time, he let out a long sigh, and a complex expression of helplessness and relief appeared on his face.

"Although the amount of money given by King Zhou is considerable, it feels like holding a hot potato in my hand!"

He whispered to himself, his voice revealing a hint of uneasiness and fear.

Why did King Zhou spend so much money just to send such a mysterious basket to his harem?

What kind of secret is hidden in that basket?
Whenever he thought of this, Sun Deying felt a chill rising up his spine and couldn't help but shiver all over.

This matter is too strange to be considered in detail, let alone explored further.

Don't be fooled by his usual high-handedness in the Shangshenjian, he orders the young eunuchs around and punishes and beats them according to his own will.

However, if one is not careful enough, even if one is only slightly involved in the affairs of the royal family, one will suffer a catastrophic disaster and end up in a tragic situation of being torn to pieces.

How could Sun Deying not feel panic?

However, when he thought of his hidden mistresses outside the palace, his four concubines, and his adopted son, Sun Deying clenched the banknotes in his hand even tighter.

Although as a eunuch he no longer has the ability to have sexual relations with men, perhaps it is precisely because of this lack that the desires in his heart have become deeper and more twisted.

Since he took the position of Chief Steward of the Imperial Kitchen and gained some status, Sun Deying took advantage of the convenience of being in charge of purchasing food and being able to enter and leave the palace freely, and purchased a spacious house outside the palace.

He also spent a large sum of money to buy four young and beautiful girls and settled them in the house.

Although Chen Deying was unable to perform sexual acts, this did not prevent him from using all kinds of cruel and perverted means to play with and torture these women.

In order to satisfy his already distorted psychology.

Over time, this became the greatest source of pleasure in his life.

In addition, Sun Deying also adopted a son, who, although not his biological child, also took his surname Sun.

Sun Deying treated him as his own son, and hoped that he would take care of him in his old age and continue the Sun family's bloodline.

However, this son who had been adopted for many years developed a habit of extravagance since childhood.

Back then, the Shangshenjian had a very lucrative salary. When purchasing dishes worth a few coins, they would report the price to be as high as dozens of coins.

The reported amount was more than ten times higher than the actual expenditure.

In addition to distributing part of the extra money to the imperial chefs below, a considerable amount of it went into the pocket of Sun Deying.

At that time, he was extremely wealthy and generous, and he was generous and casual in spending money on purchasing silks and satins, gold and silver jewelry for his concubines, and on his adopted son.

But who would have thought that since Zhu Yunhuan ascended the throne, he would vigorously promote the reporting and supervision system.

Although His Majesty the Emperor still looked upon the Shangshenjian differently and did not pursue his past corruption, the profits that the Shangshenjian could make were greatly reduced.

Although the salary has doubled, compared with the huge wealth he had made in the past, this salary is just a drop in the bucket and is insignificant.

Even if his salary increased tenfold, it would still be far from enough for him to maintain his current extravagant lifestyle.

During this period, his adopted son, who was used to spending lavishly, frequently asked him for money. He also had to support four concubines and a house full of servants, but his income had dropped sharply.

Sun Deying had already been overwhelmed by these trivial matters.

After all, it is easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but it is difficult to go from extravagance to frugality!
What's more, among the original four concubines, two have become increasingly weak due to his long-term abuse and torture, and are now dying. It seems that they will not live long.

However, Sun Deying still wanted to buy a few more concubines to fill the vacancies.

Just because once you have tasted the happiness you once had, you never want to lose it again.

Therefore, when King Zhou's people found him and put forward the risky request, although Sun Deying, who had worked in the palace for a long time and was well aware of the dangers of the court, instantly sensed the huge crisis hidden in it, but after repeatedly weighing the pros and cons, he finally gritted his teeth and nodded in agreement under the temptation of money.

Twenty thousand taels of silver is not a small sum of money.

With this money, his immediate urgent need was finally temporarily alleviated.

"Those cooks are now taking turns on strike," Sun Deying muttered to himself, "If Your Majesty could show some leniency to the Imperial Kitchen for this matter, and show some mercy..."

As I was thinking about it, suddenly, there was a rapid and violent knock on the door.

The "bang bang bang" sounds broke the silence in the house and startled Sun Deying into coming back to his senses from his thoughts.

"Who? How can you be so ignorant of the rules?"

Sun Deying hurriedly hid the banknotes in his hand into his arms and shouted.

"Manager Sun, something bad has happened!"

"Your Majesty is furious because the imperial chefs all took leave!"

The panicked voice of the young eunuch came from outside.

"The Imperial Guards surrounded the Imperial Kitchen, saying that His Majesty has ordered that all the people in the Imperial Kitchen be imprisoned and await trial!"

"what?"

When Sun Deying heard this, he was struck by lightning. His face turned pale as snow in an instant, his body shook a few times, and he almost fainted.

……

(End of this chapter)