My father is Chongzhen? Then I have no choice but to rebel.

As for him, the crown prince...

Now that Emperor Chongzhen had assumed the throne, it was only natural for him, as the "regency," to retire gracefully and enjoy a peaceful life behind the scenes.

For the time being, he doesn't need to personally appear in public to engage in such public displays and superficial interactions with officials.

Therefore, Zhu Cilang slept exceptionally soundly and deeply during this sleep.

He slept until the sun was high in the sky, when the sunlight filtering through the cracks in the window was quite bright, making the bedroom warm and cozy, before he finally woke up.

He stretched lazily in the soft bedding, listening to the faint, orderly sounds of sweeping and walking that were unique to the palace, coming from afar outside the window. A long-lost sense of relaxation, belonging to "home," enveloped him.

He didn't get up immediately, but lay quietly for a while longer, enjoying this rare, peaceful morning without anyone urging him.

Only when he felt a distinct hunger pang in his stomach did he summon the maidservant who was serving him and get up to wash.

When he changed into casual clothes and sat down at the dining table in the outer room, a delicate breakfast had already been prepared.

Steaming hot rice porridge, a few refreshing side dishes, several plates of delicate desserts, and a bowl of warm and nourishing ginseng soup.

He picked up his silver chopsticks, ready to eat, when he heard a series of hurried yet light footsteps outside the palace gate.

Immediately afterwards, Ma Bao's familiar figure strode in.

With his usual smile on his face, he stopped a few steps away from Zhu Cilang, bowed, and then said cautiously:
"Your Highness, you're awake. I was just thinking that since you had some free time today, I went to your study to tidy it up for you. Good heavens! The memorials, documents, and drafts piled up on the desk, the low table next to it, and even on the shelves by the wall were stacked up like small mountains!"

"I'm afraid that all the documents from the Cabinet that need your review or approval over the past six months have piled up there. I dare to ask, Your Highness, after you finish your breakfast, perhaps you could... go to your study to deal with them first? Otherwise, there's just too much piling up; it's making my head spin."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Cilang paused slightly as he picked up a crystal dumpling, then his brows furrowed almost imperceptibly, as if his previously good appetite had been affected.

The mountain of memorials... this was exactly what he expected.

Although the cabinet handled daily government affairs while he was away from Beijing, and Prince Zhu Cijiong of Jin used the seal, according to custom, the cabinet would make copies of many important or sensitive memorials, preliminary opinions on personnel appointments and removals, progress reports on major projects, etc., or leave them for him to review and approve upon his return.

This is a necessary procedure to ensure that the crown prince understands the political situation and participates in decision-making, and it is also a respect for his status as "regency".

In the past six months, the cabinet must have sent a lot of things to the Crown Prince's palace, but since he was not there, they have all piled up in his study.

The thought of facing those documents as heavy as brick walls, reviewing them one by one, thinking about them, and giving opinions gave Zhu Cilang a headache.

It wasn't that he was afraid of handling government affairs, but rather that he had other things on his mind at the moment.

He put down his silver chopsticks, picked up the ginseng soup, took a sip to moisten his throat, then waved to Ma Bao, his tone calm but unquestionable:
"Those memorials can be left there for now; there's no rush. I have other important matters to attend to today. Go and make arrangements; I'll be using the imperial carriage to go to the Firearms Research Institute in the west of the city later."

"Firearms Research Institute?"

Ma Bao was slightly taken aback, but quickly recovered and, without any hesitation, bowed and replied:
"Yes, Your Majesty! I will go and prepare it right away!"

After saying that, he turned around and quickly left to arrange the carriages, ceremonial guards, and other matters.

He knew the Crown Prince's temperament well; since he had said it was an "important matter," it was definitely not comparable to those piled-up memorials.

After finishing his breakfast, Zhu Cilang changed into a more neat and simple blue silk robe with cloud patterns, and put on a black mink cloak to keep out the wind and cold.

Before long, Ma Bao returned to report that the carriages and ceremonial regalia were ready.

Zhu Cilang, without further delay, left the Eastern Palace with several personal guards and eunuchs, including Ma Bao and Li Hu. He boarded an inconspicuous blue-curtained carriage and, surrounded by a group of elite plainclothes guards, quietly left the imperial city, heading straight for the heavily guarded Firearms Research Institute located in the western suburbs of Beijing.

Half a year! A full six months! What is the progress on the breech-loading rifle that he has been so concerned about and on which he has placed his hopes, that could change the future of warfare?

Before his southern tour, Bi Maokang's team had already produced a basically feasible sample, but there was still a long way to go before large-scale mass production and stable deployment to the troops.

In the past six months, has the research institute made any key breakthroughs? What is the production capacity like? Can it meet the demands of the upcoming major battle? These questions scratched at his mind like cat claws, making him restless. How could he possibly have the mind to deal with the backlog of documents?

The carriage traveled smoothly on the snow-sweeped streets, and after about half an hour, it arrived at the gate of the Firearms Research Institute, which was heavily guarded by high walls, moats, and numerous sentries.

As Ma Bao had specifically instructed beforehand, the research institute had already received the notification. Therefore, when Zhu Cilang's carriage came into view, the institute's gates were already wide open. Led by Bi Maokang, a large group of officials, master craftsmen, and managers dressed in official robes or craftsmen's short jackets were already standing respectfully waiting outside the gates, braving the cold wind.

Half a year had passed since I last saw Bi Maokang, and he seemed to have aged a bit more, with more white hair and a more hunched back. However, behind his thick glasses, his eyes still shone with a persistent and wise light, and he seemed to be in good spirits.

Seeing Zhu Cilang alight from the carriage, he hurriedly and shakily led the group forward, bowing deeply in respect, his voice carrying the reverence of an old minister and a hint of excitement at meeting his "patron":
"Your humble servant Bi Maokang, along with all colleagues at the Firearms Research Institute, respectfully welcomes Your Highness the Crown Prince! Long live Your Highness!"

"Your Highness, we respectfully welcome Your Highness! Long live Your Highness!"

The crowd behind him echoed in unison, their voices shaking the courtyard gate.

Zhu Cilang smiled gently, quickly stepped forward, and personally helped Bi Maokang, who was about to kneel, to his feet, saying softly:
"Please rise, Minister Bi. Everyone, please rise as well. It's freezing cold, and I'm sorry to have kept you all waiting. It's been half a year since I last saw you. Minister Bi looks very energetic. Under your leadership, the research institute must have achieved great success."

Bi Maokang stood up with the help of the Crown Prince, a genuine smile appearing on his face, and said repeatedly:

"Your Highness is too kind! This old minister is unworthy of such praise. It is all thanks to Your Highness's strong support, the court's generous funding, and the tireless efforts of my colleagues in the academy that we have made some small progress. Your Highness, please come inside; it's windy outside."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Zhu Cilang, guided by Bi Maokang and others, entered the research institute.

Six months later, upon re-entering this restricted area, Zhu Cilang keenly noticed that the interior of the research institute had undergone new changes.

The original workshop area seemed to have expanded, with several tall, newly built sheds emitting wisps of smoke, from which came rhythmic metallic clanging and the roar of machine tools. The internal roads were smoother, and the stockpiles of iron, timber, coal, and other materials in the spruce yard were more orderly and plentiful.

The air is filled with a unique aroma of coal, rust, saltpeter, and grease, a testament to the vibrant life and efficient operation of this place.

Behind all these changes is undoubtedly the continuous injection of a huge budget of up to five million taels of silver every year, as well as the enormous autonomy granted by the imperial court, which is almost "laissez-faire".

Under such favorable conditions, the Firearms Research Institute, like a carefully nurtured sapling, naturally flourished and had a promising future.

The group walked through the front yard and took their seats in the main hall of the research institute.

A waiter served hot tea. Zhu Cilang took a sip, which dispelled some of the chill, and then, without beating around the bush, went straight to the topic he cared about most, looking intently at Bi Maokang:
"Minister Bi, let's skip the formalities. What I'm here for today is the progress of the new rifle. Before the southern tour, a prototype was already in place. In the past six months, has mass production been achieved? What is the current daily production? What is the inventory?"

Bi Maokang was prepared, knowing that the Crown Prince's primary purpose in coming was to inquire about this matter. He set down his teacup, stroked his white beard, and, with a hint of pride mixed with caution on his face, slowly replied:
"Your Highness, during Your Majesty's southern tour, this old minister and the craftsmen in the institute dared not slacken in the slightest. Based on the direction Your Majesty initially instructed, we have carried out several rounds of optimization on the firing mechanism, locking method, and barrel rifling process of the rifle, making it more reliable and durable, and also slightly simplifying the processing difficulty of some parts."

"Three months ago, all the processes were basically stable and the standard was determined, so we started small-batch trial production, and then moved into formal mass production."

He paused, observed the crown prince's expression, and continued:

"Currently, the rifle production line is operating at full capacity, with craftsmen working in three shifts, day and night. However, this thing is far more sophisticated and complex than a flintlock rifle. Many parts have extremely high requirements, and tolerances must be controlled within millimeters. In particular, the pulling of the barrel bore and the polishing of the locking mechanism are extremely time-consuming."

"Therefore, the current daily output is about 300 rifles. Since the start of mass production, about 11,000 qualified new rifles have been put into storage. This number has far exceeded the initial expectations."

Upon hearing "300 pieces produced per day" and "11,000 pieces in stock," Zhu Cilang felt a slight sense of relief, as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

Finally, mass production has begun! And with an inventory of over 10,000, this means that a sizable elite force fully armed with the new rifles now has the equipment base.

This is undoubtedly a huge advantage for his future military plans.

However, this relaxation lasted only a moment.

The next second, his brows furrowed slightly again.

Three hundred units a day? That pace seems... too slow for a large-scale war of annihilation that may break out soon!

Over the course of a year, the expenditure would barely exceed 100,000. To fully re-equip the hundreds of thousands of border troops and the main force of the capital garrison of the Ming Dynasty would be impossible in less than three to five years.

Moreover, once war breaks out, the losses will inevitably be staggering, and whether the production rate can keep up with the consumption is also a major problem.

"Three hundred units per day..."

Zhu Cilang pondered for a moment, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest of the rosewood chair.

"Minister Bi, is it possible to further increase this production capacity? For example, by recruiting more skilled craftsmen, purchasing more equipment, and optimizing processes? The imperial court's funds are not a problem."

Upon hearing this, Bi Maokang gave a distinctly wry smile. He cupped his hands in a gesture of respect, his tone tinged with helplessness:

"Your Highness is wise. How could this old minister not wish to speed things up? But... it is difficult. The steel, spring steel, and even the many small and precise parts inside the bolt of this new rifle all require top-quality materials and must be handcrafted and repeatedly tested by the most skilled old craftsmen."

“Training a craftsman capable of handling key processes takes more than a few months. Currently, the institute has gathered almost all the best blacksmiths, coppersmiths, and grinders from the capital and surrounding prefectures, working day and night, nearly pushing manpower to its limits. As for equipment, we've used available water hammers and simple machine tools. Furthermore…”

He glanced at Zhu Cilang and added:

"Furthermore, the research institute does not only produce this one type of firearm. The flintlock production line has also been running continuously, producing daily. The two share some workshops, material yards, and even skilled craftsmen, which is really... overwhelming."

"Maintaining the current daily production of 300 rifles and nearly 1,000 flintlock muskets is already the result of the entire academy's best efforts. To increase production further, unless... unless Your Highness can conjure up a few hundred more top-notch craftsmen for this old minister, or, to completely stop flintlock musket production and focus all efforts on ensuring the production of rifles."

Zhu Cilang listened and slowly nodded, a look of understanding on his face.

He naturally knew that Bi Maokang was telling the truth. Technological breakthroughs and increased production capacity were not things that could be achieved overnight, especially in the Ming Dynasty, where the industrial base was weak. Demanding an immediate "mass production" of rifles was indeed unrealistic.

As for completely ceasing production of flintlock muskets, that is absolutely impossible.

Although the new rifle is more advanced and represents the future, it remains an "expensive" and "limited-production" cutting-edge weapon for now.

As for flintlock muskets, after several years of development, the technology has become extremely mature, the production line is well-established, the cost is relatively controllable, and the production capacity is considerable.

Most importantly, the re-equipment of the Ming army was far from complete.

Over the past two years, flintlock muskets have been primarily issued to the border troops of Liaodong, Jizhou, and Xuanda who were directly facing the Jurchens, as well as to the elite troops of the Jingying and Shenjiying who guarded the capital.

In remote areas like Yunnan and Guizhou in the southwest, and even some remote garrisons in the northwest, due to long distances, difficult transportation, and limited production capacity, they are still largely equipped with old-fashioned firearms such as arquebuses and three-barreled guns.

To achieve a rapid upgrade of the entire army's firearms and prepare for a potential major war, flintlock muskets remain an irreplaceable mainstay.

Rifles are more like a "trump card" prepared for the most elite troops and a future "standard equipment." The coexistence of the two is probably inevitable for at least the next five years.

Only after rifle technology has fully matured, costs have dropped significantly, and production capacity has increased explosively will flintlock rifles gradually and completely replace flintlock rifles. This is a long but necessary process.

"I understand. Minister Bi and everyone else have worked hard. It is already quite an achievement to have made such progress. As for production capacity, we can proceed step by step, with quality as the top priority."

Zhu Cilang suppressed a hint of impatience and affirmed Bi Maokang's work. (End of Chapter)