Take control of Wei Zhongxian at the start and confiscate 100 million from him!

Chapter 163 I'll settle this score.

Inside the central command tent, the lamps crackled and popped as the wicks, soaked in butter, burned, casting a dim yellow light on the huge geomantic map hanging on the tent wall.

The cold wind outside the tent whipped up sand and dust, howling and slapping against the heavy tent curtains with a dull thud.

Sun Yuanhua stood with his hands at his sides. Just moments before, he had been hurriedly brought here by a young eunuch from the workshop, passing through layers of guards, and stepping into this large tent that symbolized the highest military power center of the empire.

He saw no elaborate ceremonial procession, nor heard any lengthy announcements. The young emperor on the throne simply said, "Rise, take a seat," after he had performed the full kowtow, and said nothing more.

Sun Yuanhua sat on the brocade stool, his back straight. The heart that had been pounding with excitement gradually calmed down the moment he stepped into the tent, infected by the solemn yet urgent atmosphere.

We need to get down to business.

The emperor did not utter a single falsehood, nor did he ask Sun Yuanhua how he had been these past few months, nor did he reward him for his past achievements.

His gaze shifted from the enormous geomantic map to Sun Yuanhua's face.

“Sun Yuanhua,” the emperor spoke, his voice flat, “when the Embroidered Uniform Guard came to find you, they brought with them my promise. Today, I will give you all four of these infinitys.”

The emperor extended his first finger.

"First, silver. From this day forward, for all expenses required for the research and development of cannons, including iron, copper, wood, firewood, and even gunpowder and projectiles used in testing, you shall list them directly and report them to me. I will give you as much money as the imperial treasury has. If the imperial treasury runs out of money, I will confiscate property, open up the seas, and gather all the silver in the world for you! I only want one thing—the best cannons!"

"I accept it. I'll take responsibility for this debt!"

Sun Yuanhua suddenly raised his head, his lips moved, and his eyes instantly reddened.

In Dengzhou and Laizhou, in order to obtain a little funding for cannon casting, he had to bow down to officials at all levels, write countless official documents, and endure countless humiliations!

At this moment, the emperor himself told him that money was no longer a problem!
The emperor extended a second finger, his voice turning cold, and called out to the outside of the tent: "Tian Ergeng."

A black figure emerged from behind the tent flap and knelt on one knee: "Your subject is here."

"I'll give you a second thing," Zhu Youjian said, turning his gaze to Sun Yuanhua, but addressing Tian Ergeng. "From this day forward, Sun Yuanhua may, by my secret decree, mobilize any government-run artisans throughout the country! Whether it's the Arsenal in the capital, the Armory in Nanjing, the Salt and Iron Bureau in Lianghuai, or the Iron Foundry in Guangdong, all the skilled craftsmen he needs must be sent to the capital! Anyone who dares to refuse or disobey will be punished."

He paused, then said in a chilling tone, "The Embroidered Uniform Guard will personally come to his door and ask him to have a heart-to-heart talk."

Tian Ergeng kowtowed deeply: "As you command!"

Sun Yuanhua's body trembled uncontrollably as he thought of those skilled craftsmen who were bound to various places due to household registration restrictions, and who were unable to display their talents for life.

This imperial decree is tantamount to handing over all the top craftsmen in the entire Ming Dynasty to his service!
"Thirdly, talent." Zhu Youjian held up a third finger. "I know that relying solely on the craftsmen of my Great Ming is not enough. Western firearms do indeed have their unique advantages. I have ordered Zheng Zhilong's fleet to recruit gunners and craftsmen from Western merchant ships whenever they encounter them, in addition to trade. The Jinyiwei's spies in Macau will also do their utmost to gather talent for you. Whatever kind of people you need—Westerners, foreigners—as long as they exist in this world, I will bring them to you! If there is a language barrier, we will provide translators; if there are different customs, we will treat them well. As long as they can cast cannons for my Great Ming, I will not hesitate to spend a fortune!"

"Fourthly, is authority." The emperor finally raised his fourth finger, his tone brimming with absolute authority. "Today, I bestow upon you this unprecedented and unparalleled authority. In all matters concerning the research, development, manufacture, and testing of firearms, you may act first and report later! Any department, any official, who dares to obstruct or delay for any reason, you may wield my sword and execute first and report later!"

Sun Yuanhua was stunned on the spot.

He could no longer sit still, and suddenly slid off the brocade stool, kneeling on both knees, banging his head on the ground, his voice hoarse and choked with emotion.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty trusts me so much, even if I were to die ten thousand times, I could not repay even a fraction of Your Majesty's kindness!"

Sun Yuanhua wasn't just being polite; it was a heartfelt expression of trepidation and gratitude.

He devoted his life to studying Western learning and became proficient in firearms, but he was repeatedly ostracized and even nearly lost his life.

All he wanted was to put his lifelong learning into practice and serve the Ming Dynasty!

Sun Yuanhua had thought he had no hope left in his life, but he never expected that at this most desperate moment, he would meet this unparalleled emperor.

This is not just a matter of being recognized and appreciated; it's a matter of being given a second chance!
Zhu Youjian looked at him quietly.

"Get up," the emperor said slowly. "I gave you all this not for your tears, but for what you have."

Upon hearing this, Sun Yuanhua abruptly wiped away his tears. He raised his head, his eyes shining with an unprecedented light. He solemnly pulled out a thick booklet carefully wrapped in oilcloth from his bosom.

"Your Majesty, I... have not dared to slacken in the slightest these past few months. Combining the strengths of our Great Ming's firearms with the Western barbarians' cannon-casting methods, I have pondered day and night and drafted a plan, which I humbly request Your Majesty to review!"

Wang Chengen quickly stepped forward, took the booklet, and presented it to Zhu Youjian.

Zhu Youjian opened the booklet, and what came into view were countless detailed drawings and densely packed tiny characters.

“The Imperial Ming Canon of Artillery…” He softly read out the four words on the first page of the booklet, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes.

“Your Majesty,” Sun Yuanhua had regained his composure, his voice filled with confidence and professionalism, “Our Ming Dynasty has a wide variety of firearms, but they are not all the same in terms of design and size, making them extremely difficult to coordinate in wartime. I believe that the most urgent task is to establish a set of standards! From caliber, barrel, and charge to projectiles, everything should be standardized! This ‘Cannon Codex’ is my initial idea.”

"My plan is to unify the artillery of our Great Ming Dynasty into three major categories."

Pointing to the blueprints, he enthusiastically introduced the cannon: "'The Divine Might General Cannon'! This cannon is designed specifically for fortified cities and strongholds. The cannon barrel must weigh over ten thousand kilograms, with a huge caliber, pursuing the ultimate range and power. One shot is enough to make the city walls tremble and terrify the enemy!"

"'Suppressing the Enemy and Pacifying the Bandits Cannon'! This cannon is the main force in field battles, with a barrel weighing around three thousand catties, balancing power and mobility. It is mainly used to deal with the heavily armored infantry of the Jurchens and the dense formations of the bandits. The goal is to sweep away their strongholds with a single shot!"

"'Victorious Flying Cloud Cannon'! This cannon weighs less than 1,000 jin (approximately 500 kg), making it lightweight and easily moved with the army. It is deployed in cavalry or infantry battalions to provide close-range fire suppression. Although its power is slightly inferior, its advantages lie in its rate of fire and maneuverability!"

He became more and more excited as he spoke, and then turned to the next few pages, pointing to the improved processes for iron smelting, casting, and drilling.

"Your Majesty, I have also improved the casting method. Using iron as a mold, we can create a hollow cannon, which ensures a smooth barrel and improves accuracy. In addition, the water-powered drilling method, combined with a new alloy ratio, can greatly increase the lifespan and safety of the cannon..."

Sun Yuanhua presented the fruits of his life's labor, one by one.

This is the full wisdom and passion of a brilliant firearms expert from the Ming Dynasty, who, after receiving a promise of unlimited resource support, unleashed!
Zhu Youjian listened quietly, nodding repeatedly. Sun Yuanhua's idea was quite similar to the mature artillery systems he remembered.

But this is not enough.

After Sun Yuanhua finished speaking and took a breath as if he hadn't said enough, Zhu Youjian slowly opened his mouth.

"Chuyang, you did very well." He first gave full affirmation, and then changed the subject, "But I have a few points to add."

Sun Yuanhua immediately bowed: "Your Majesty, please give your instructions. I am all ears!"

Zhu Youjian stood up and walked to the huge geomantic map, his gaze seemingly piercing through the tent and directed towards a more distant future.

"First, the cannon must be good, and the cannon carriage that carries it must keep up!" He stretched out his finger and gestured in the air. "The existing four-wheeled cannon carriages are too cumbersome and difficult to maneuver. I want you to design a brand new two-wheeled cannon carriage! The carriage body must be lightweight and sturdy, and the wheels must be wide and strong enough to adapt to the sandy and hard ground where the cavalry gallops in the north, and also be able to handle the muddy paddy fields in the south!"

"Most importantly," the emperor's voice suddenly rose, "the gun carriages must be equipped with quadrants and elevation mechanisms! I require the gunners to measure the distance and calculate the angle before firing, instead of just firing a shot in a general direction based on intuition and calling it a day! Every shot must be a precise one!"

Sun Yuanhua stood there, stunned. "Quadrant...elevation mechanism..."

He had only seen these terms in the most profound Western classics, which were almost the highest level of artillery theory. Even many Western artillery units had not been able to fully popularize them, yet the emperor used them so casually and demanded that they be made into standard equipment!
Zhu Youjian didn't give him time to be shocked, and continued, "Ammunition! Solid shot alone is far from enough!"

He turned around, his sharp gaze fixed on Sun Yuanhua:
"To deal with the Jurchen's heavily armored infantry and swift cavalry, no matter how powerful solid shot is, it can only hit a single line! I want you to mass-produce 'gray shot' for me! Wrap dozens or hundreds of small iron balls in sheet metal or cloth bags, and fire them out like a shower of flowers, covering a large area! I want to turn the Jurchen's dense infantry formations into a bloody hell on their way to charge!"

"And another thing!" He pointed to the geomantic map in the southeast, "To deal with warships at sea, solid shot only leaves a hole in the hull. I want 'chain shot'! Two cannonballs connected by an iron chain, which spin at high speed after being fired, specifically designed to destroy the masts and sails of enemy ships! Once their power is cut off, won't those targets at sea be at the mercy of my Great Ming Navy?!"

“Shotgun shells… Chain bullets…” Sun Yuanhua felt his breathing become difficult. Of course he knew about these special munitions, but they were either complex to manufacture or very expensive, and had always remained only in the theoretical and small-scale trial production stages.

The emperor's demand was for "mass production"! This meant that a completely new tactical system centered on ammunition diversity was about to be born!
If the first two points had already shocked Sun Yuanhua, then the emperor's third supplement left him completely stunned.

"The most important point—is still talent!" The emperor's voice became more solemn than ever before. "Having the best cannons without people who know how to use them is nothing more than a pile of expensive scrap metal! I intend to build a 'Royal Artillery Military Academy' in the capital!"

"You, Sun Yuanhua, will be the first headmaster!"

"I will find you the best Western instructors to teach the young talents of my Great Ming. What will they teach? Not the Four Books and Five Classics, but mathematics, geometry, physics, and ballistics! Every officer who comes out of the military academy must know how to calculate a parabola, how to measure wind drift, and how to command an artillery position to conduct concentrated fire and extended firing!"

"What I want are professional artillery officers who truly understand warfare, not a bunch of reckless brutes who only know how to fire based on guts and guts!"

After stating these three points, Zhu Youjian picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and said nothing more.

Inside the large tent, there was a deathly silence.

Sun Yuanhua stood there blankly, looking at the young emperor before him as if gazing up at an insurmountable mountain.

He originally thought that what he had painstakingly deduced was an unparalleled achievement that encompassed everything from the casting to the application of this firearm.

However, the emperor's few words painted a picture before his eyes that he had never dared to imagine before—it was not just the art of 'making weapons', but also the integration of 'casting cannons', 'training people', and 'battle tactics' into one, making them interconnected, like living water with its own source, flowing endlessly and moving forward on its own!
After a long while, Sun Yuanhua finally recovered from the great shock. He knelt down before the emperor for the third time with utmost solemnity.

"Get up." Zhu Youjian's voice was calm as water, yet it had immense power, pulling him back from the near-disorientation he was in.

"What I have said today requires a powerful government to implement it." The emperor walked to his desk, picked up a vermilion brush, and began to write furiously on a blank imperial edict.

"I have decided to establish a separate agency outside the Six Ministries, named the 'Imperial Ming Firearms Agency'! It will be in charge of the research, development, manufacturing, supervision, and evaluation of all firearms in the empire! This agency will be independent of the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Works, directly under the Imperial Treasury, and will be directly responsible to me!"

The brushstroke fell, and the jade seal was stamped.

He personally handed the still-wet imperial edict to Sun Yuanhua.

"Sun Yuanhua, you are hereby promoted to the first Director of the Imperial Ming Firearms Bureau, with the rank of Third Grade, and are granted the Imperial Sword, and shall be in charge of all affairs!"

With trembling hands, Sun Yuanhua accepted the scalding hot imperial edict.

This thin sheet of paper weighs more than a thousand pounds!
(End of this chapter)