Huangming

Chapter 341 The Rebel King's Battle Against the Jin Dynasty: Firearms Innovation

Inside the East Warm Pavilion, Zhu Youxiao stared intently at Li Hongji: "The chaos caused by the Wenxiang Sect is nothing more than a minor ailment. The real threat lies in Liaodong. The Jurchens are ambitious, and the leaders of the Mongol tribes are two-faced. These are the sharp blades hanging over the head of the Ming Dynasty."

Li Hongji listened attentively with his head bowed, secretly agreeing in his heart.

Recalling the chaos of the Fragrance Sect, Xu Hongru merely relied on feigning supernatural powers to gather people's hearts. Most of his followers were illiterate commoners, a stark contrast to the Liaodong wars he had heard about.

The Jurchen cavalry in Liaodong are fierce and skilled in battle, while the Mongol cavalry are swift and unpredictable. To achieve great merit here would be the true path to fame and fortune.

For Li Hongji, being a mere brigade commander was just the beginning.

We should go and test our skills against the Jurchens and see who is the true hero!

"Your Majesty is right!"

Li Hongji looked up, his eyes burning with fierce fighting spirit.

"How can the merit of suppressing a rebellion compare to resisting a foreign enemy? In Liaodong, cutting off the head of a Jurchen is a real military achievement! Being ennobled and appointed as a prime minister is not out of reach!"

He clenched his fist, his voice filled with barely concealed excitement.

In the past, when I was struggling in the wilderness, I had never had such an opportunity.
If one can achieve meritorious service on the Liaodong battlefield, it might truly change one's fate.

Prince and general, would you rather have a kind?
Zhu Youxiao looked at the ambitious military general before him, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.

The "Chuang King," who stirred up a storm in history, is about to meet Huang Taiji of the Jurchens in Liaodong. What sparks will this collision ignite?
Just imagining it is enough to get one's blood pumping.

"Since you are willing to go, I am relieved."

Zhu Youxiao said in a deep voice, "On your way to Liaodong, you will first accompany Yang Lian to inspect the nine border regions, with a focus on Liaodong. He will help you familiarize yourself with military affairs and investigate the border situation."

At this point, his tone suddenly became more serious.

"But you must understand that an inspection is not a sightseeing trip. Are military salaries paid in full? Are weapons rusted or damaged? Have officers at all levels embezzled or exploited them? These things must be thoroughly investigated."

Li Hongji was startled, realizing the difficulty of the task.

Reorganizing the military pay system in Liaodong was tantamount to taking away the "cheese" of those nobles and military generals; if not handled carefully, it would lead to utter ruin.

But the more difficult the situation, the more eager he became to try.

Li Hongji kowtowed deeply: "Your Majesty, I will certainly live up to your trust! Even if I am shattered to pieces, I will get to the bottom of this!"

Zhu Youxiao nodded in satisfaction and waved his hand: "Go and make preparations. You will depart with Yang Lian in three days. I await your good news."

After Li Hongji left the East Warm Pavilion, Zhu Youxiao sat back down at his desk and picked up his vermilion brush to continue reviewing the mountain of memorials.

On the table lay a list of officials to be reformed, sent by Qi Shijiao from Shandong. Next to the densely packed names were notes of crimes and recommendations for punishment. He was reviewing them one by one when he suddenly heard light footsteps coming from outside the hall.

Wei Chao bowed and entered with small steps. Upon reaching the imperial desk, he knelt down, his voice extremely low:

"Your Majesty, Sun Yuanhua, the Director of the Armory, has submitted a petition to see you, saying that there has been substantial progress in the improvement of the three-barreled gun and cannons."

"Oh?"

Zhu Youxiao paused abruptly with his vermilion brush in his hand, his eyes instantly brightening with a sharp light, and the weariness he had felt while reviewing memorials vanished.

"Send him in!"

Firearms improvement was one of the most important tasks he had undertaken since ascending the throne.

On the Liaodong battlefield, firearms were not advantageous against the Jurchen cavalry.

The muskets in the army often suffer from the problem of exploding, and these problems are like a thorn in his side. Now that Sun Yuanhua has sent news, how can he not take it to heart?
In the past, Wei Chao would usually intercept and screen reports or requests for audiences that were not urgent. However, when it came to matters involving firearms and military industry, he had already given instructions that reports should be made immediately, no matter what.

This matter concerns the very fate of the Ming Dynasty, and he understood the priorities better than anyone else.

A moment later, Sun Yuanhua strode in carrying a long wooden box.

His blue official robe was stained with some copper rust and iron filings, and his hair was slightly disheveled from the journey, clearly indicating that he had just come from the workshop of the Armory Bureau.

Upon seeing Zhu Youxiao behind the imperial desk, he immediately knelt on one knee and placed the wooden box steadily in front of him: "Your subject, Sun Yuanhua, pays his respects to Your Majesty!"

"Get up."

Zhu Youxiao raised his hand in greeting, his gaze already fixed on the wooden box, his tone revealing a hint of interest.

"You said there have been results in the improvement of firearms? Bring them here quickly so we can see them."

Sun Yuanhua quickly got up, picked up the wooden box with both hands, walked to the imperial desk, and carefully opened the lid.

A strangely shaped three-barreled gun lay conspicuously among them.

Unlike ordinary three-barreled guns, this gun has a foot-long fine steel blade cast beneath the barrel. The blade has a smooth curve and anti-slip serrations on the back. The connection between the barrel and the blade is polished smooth and tight, showing no trace of splicing. Instead, it looks like a single piece.

"Your Majesty, please take a look."

Sun Yuanhua picked up the firearm, pointed to the blade, and explained: "In the past, when our musketeers encountered the enemy at close range, the muskets became a burden, leaving them helpless and waiting to be killed. This time, I have improved the weapon by fusing the barrel of the three-barreled musket with the ring-pommel sword. In long-range combat, it can be loaded with gunpowder and lead bullets for continuous fire; if the enemy rushes close, the musketeers do not need to switch weapons and can immediately wield the blade to slash and thrust."

As he spoke, he demonstrated, gripping the gun handle and making two mock chopping motions, the blade slicing through the air with a soft "whoosh" sound. He then turned the barrel towards the bronze crane lampstand in the corner of the hall, adding:
"Furthermore, I have optimized the casting method of the gun barrel, adopting the technique of 'clay mold stacking casting', which makes the inner wall smoother and reduces the risk of barrel explosion; anti-slip texture has been added to the rear of the barrel, making it more stable to hold and improving shooting accuracy."

Zhu Youxiao reached out and took the three-eyed gun that combined the gun and blade. It felt heavy in his hand, but it didn't feel clumsy.

He stroked the cold gun barrel and blade, his fingertips clearly feeling the tight texture of the forging, and he felt a slight sense of approval.

This improvement, though seemingly simple, hit the nail on the head regarding the Ming army's weakness in close combat with musketeers. If it could be deployed on a large scale, the firearms units on the Liaodong battlefield would definitely see a significant increase in combat effectiveness.

of course……

This improvement, intended to impress Zhu Youxiao, still failed to do so.

This level of improvement did not yet meet Zhu Youxiao's expectations.

"This is not the place to tinker with these things."

Zhu Youxiao placed the improved three-barreled gun heavily on the table.

"Immediately transport all the improved firearms to the training ground in the West Garden."

His gaze was intense, and his eyes gleamed with barely suppressed excitement.

Theoretical discussions are ultimately superficial; only through actual combat exercises can the power of these firearms be truly tested.

Sun Yuanhua was startled, his hands trembling slightly with excitement. He hurriedly bowed and accepted the order: "Your subject obeys!"

The fact that His Majesty attaches such importance to the improvement of firearms seems to have transformed into the glory of his years of hard work in the Armory.

Wei Chao, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, stood to the side with a grave expression and a voice full of worry: "Your Majesty! Firearms are inherently dangerous, let alone newly made ones. Even the slightest mistake..."

He fell to his knees with a thud, his forehead almost touching the cold gold brick.

"If the Emperor's health is harmed, this is a matter of great importance concerning the fate of the Ming Dynasty!"

Zhu Youxiao raised his hand and rubbed his temples, his tone softening slightly: "Get up. I'm not going to personally wield the gun and light the fire; I'll just observe from afar."

"By imperial decree, prepare the imperial carriage for the inner training ground immediately."

Seeing that the emperor had made up his mind, Wei Chao didn't dare to stop him and immediately had a eunuch shout, "Let's depart!"

As the long, drawn-out announcement of "Let's begin!" rang out, the bright yellow ceremonial guard, like a winding dragon, marched grandly along the bluestone imperial road of the Forbidden City toward the Western Garden.

Beneath the palace walls and eaves, the golden mace and halberd gleamed coldly in the twilight, yet they paled in comparison to the fervor in Zhu Youxiao's eyes.

By the time the emperor's procession arrived, the inner training ground was already brightly lit by torches, as if it were daytime.

The craftsmen of the Armory were sweating profusely as they adjusted firearms, the clanging of metal and the hushed instructions echoing throughout the room.

The twelve improved cannons stood proudly facing the sky, their muzzles gleaming with a faint blue light.

Rows of muskets and three-barreled guns were neatly arranged, their newly forged blades gleaming coldly in the firelight. "Zhang Zhiji!"

Zhu Youxiao took his seat on the viewing platform and raised his hand to summon the commander of the Noble Camp.

"Your unit must immediately demonstrate the performance of the firearms and report their strengths and weaknesses truthfully."

Zhang Zhiji, clad in black iron armor, clasped his hands in a salute and then turned to walk towards the weapon rack.

He picked up a modified musket first, the heavy barrel making him raise an eyebrow slightly.

The Lumi-style bolt action was indeed ingenious, with the spring and trigger engaging tightly, and a moisture-proof copper cap was specially added to the matchlock slot.

With a loud bang, the straw target fifty paces away fell to the ground. As the smoke cleared, the bullet hole was nearly a third smaller than that of an ordinary bird gun.

"Your Majesty, please look!"

Sun Yuanhua strode forward, holding his improved three-barreled gun high in his hand.

"This gun not only has a fine steel blade, but also a sandproof cover at the touch hole."

He casually grabbed a handful of sand and threw it onto the gun barrel, and the cover plate completely blocked the gaps that would normally be easily penetrated by gunpowder.

"Even on the sandstorm-swept battlefield of Liaodong, there is no need to worry about the medicine failing to work!"

Upon seeing the item, Zhu Youxiao nodded slightly and said approvingly, "Not bad."

Finally, the improved cannons made their appearance.

As the torchbearer brought the torch close to the fuse, a deafening roar shook the ground, and a crater several feet deep was instantly blasted into the distant earthen mound.

Amidst the smoke of battle, Sun Yuanhua pointed to the inscriptions on the cannons and shouted: "Each cannon is engraved with the craftsman's name and the date of casting. If any cannon explodes, we will be able to hold the perpetrators accountable! More importantly, I have already studied the Portuguese method of casting cannons using iron molds. The cannons we make in the future will certainly be even more powerful!"

The smoke from the inner training ground had not yet dissipated, and the torches flickered and swayed in the night wind, coating the scattered shell casings and broken straw targets with a crimson hue.

Zhu Youxiao stared at the three-barreled gun with a blade attached, his knuckles tapping rhythmically on the armrest of the reviewing stand. He suddenly spoke: "These improvements are indeed good. Some can be used on the battlefield with slight modifications, but I am not entirely satisfied."

The emperor's voice boomed like thunder, and the record book in Sun Yuanhua's hand fell to the ground with a "thud".

He staggered forward two steps and hurriedly apologized, "Your Majesty, please forgive us! It must have been our negligence..."

"stand up."

Zhu Youxiao walked quickly down the steps.

He reached out and supported Sun Yuanhua's trembling arm, the warmth of his palm seeping through the official robes.

"How could I possibly blame you? Your ability to fuse muskets and swords into one is already ingenious. But in my opinion, it is far from enough."

Sun Yuanhua stood stiffly, his Adam's apple bobbing with difficulty: "Please give your instructions, Your Majesty!"

Zhu Youxiao released his grip, walked to the weapon rack, and suddenly pulled out a modified three-barreled gun.

The blade flashed coldly as it was drawn, but he slammed it back onto the wooden frame, causing the entire row of weapons to clang loudly.
"Your decision to attach sharp blades to muskets will certainly give soldiers a better chance of survival in close combat. But let me ask you something."

He suddenly turned around, his gaze as sharp as a hawk's.

"What exactly are the strengths of the musket? Is it its long-range accuracy, like hitting a willow leaf at a hundred paces, or its brute strength in clashing with sabers?"

Without waiting for a reply, he grabbed a modified musket and pointed it at the target at the end of the drill ground:
"Why were the Jurchen cavalry able to rampage through Liaodong? Their three-barreled guns had a range of only fifty paces, yet the Jurchen mounted archers could take lives from a hundred paces away; their matchlocks were difficult to light if they were slightly damp and would go out in the wind, but when was there a day without wind on the grasslands?"

"Not to mention the lengthy loading process, from pouring gunpowder and loading the projectiles to inserting the matchlock. By the time you're all ready, the Jurchen scimitars will have already sliced ​​your head off!"

Sun Yuanhua's forehead veins bulged as he stared at the firearm the emperor was constantly gesturing with.

Those improvement plans he had studied day and night now seemed so pale under the emperor's analysis.

"Remember, the essence of firearms lies in 'defeating the enemy from a hundred paces away'!"

"and……"

"What I need is not a patchwork emergency solution, but a divine weapon that will prevent the Jurchens from daring to take a single step closer! Increase the range, reduce the reloading speed to the blink of an eye, and make the muskets impervious to wind, snow, and sandstorms. This is the way to break the deadlock!"

After talking about the muskets, Zhu Youxiao walked towards the cannons.

“Sun Qing, please take a closer look.”

He suddenly spoke, his voice deep and powerful, echoing through the silent training ground.

"These cannons may look imposing, but what use are they if they can't even hit the Jurchen camp? Their rate of fire is slow; by the time the second cannon is reloaded, the enemy will have already reached the front lines. Their accuracy is poor; nine out of ten shots miss, making them nothing more than a waste of gunpowder!"

Upon hearing this, Sun Yuanhua was so frightened that he knelt down again.

"stand up!"

Zhu Youxiao quickly stepped forward and reached out to help him up.

"I am not being harsh on you. The Bureau of Armaments has already achieved remarkable results. But you must understand that in the icy wilderness of Liaodong, the Jurchens are watching us with predatory eyes. Our firearms must be able to travel farther, faster, more accurately, and more ruthlessly!"

Sun Yuanhua raised his head and looked into the burning light in the emperor's eyes, and his mind suddenly cleared.

"Your Majesty is wise! Your subject will certainly focus on range, rate of fire, power, and accuracy, and devote all my efforts to its research!"

Zhu Youxiao nodded slightly, his expression softening: "These improvements do have their merits. A batch of the Lumi-style breechblock and the cannon's tracking mechanism can be manufactured and tested in actual combat. But more..."

His gaze swept over the experimental equipment scattered on the ground, and he said, "We still need to strive for perfection. Remember, in the art of firearms, a slight error can lead to a huge mistake."

"The minister obeys the order!"

After giving his instructions, Zhu Youxiao turned and walked toward the ceremonial guard.

The bright yellow dragon flag fluttered in the night wind. He looked back at the drill ground, his mind filled with countless thoughts.

Although these achievements of the Ordnance Bureau have not met expectations, they have at least taken the first step.

The road to reform is never smooth. Like the cannons on the training ground, every roar is accompanied by risk, and every improvement requires countless trials.

But at least it's started, hasn't it?

Furthermore, Zhu Youxiao wanted to demonstrate his emphasis on reforming machinery.
He wanted his court officials to know that he, the emperor, took this matter very seriously.

"By imperial decree, the Bureau of Armory shall be given priority in receiving the necessary craftsmen, funds, and materials! No one shall be allowed to obstruct this!"

Then, he turned to look at Sun Yuanhua.

"Minister Sun, the research and development of firearms needs to continue. I have high hopes for you."

After offering his words of encouragement, Zhu Youxiao boarded the imperial carriage.

The wheels rolled over the blue bricks, making a rumbling sound.

Zhu Youxiao gazed at the twinkling stars in the night sky and clenched his fist.

Decades ago, the firearms of the Ming Dynasty were unparalleled in the world.

Now, he is determined to restore that glory.

As long as the direction is right and we persevere, what is there to worry about in not succeeding?

This is not only for the sake of the Ming Dynasty, but also for the sake of future generations!
Because he understood a principle: without powerful ships and cannons, we will only be bullied by foreign tribes in the end.

and……

The firearms of the Ming Dynasty should have been the best in the world!

He only wanted to restore the former glory of the Ming Dynasty.

(End of this chapter)