I, Kangxi, am here to overthrow the Qing and restore the Ming!

The Xiyuan Youth Training Group was practicing with great enthusiasm.

Hong Xiguan, who had been reading Gou Dao novels for many years, watched the young men pounce and fight like tigers descending from the mountain. He gently rubbed his fingers, but still felt that they were not steady enough!

No matter how skilled the Jiehua Haircutting Youth Corps is, they are still just a group of special forces soldiers from the era of cold weapons.

What is Ao Bai? He is a Baturu, the number one warrior of Manchuria, a humanoid Gundam!

If he suddenly reveals his true colors and these kids can't hold him back, and he rushes up to me, my small frame wouldn't be enough for one of his punches.

Historically, Emperor Kangxi captured Oboi by a group of young wrestlers rushing in. It seemed simple, but it was actually extremely dangerous and full of chance.

That was a gamble.

The gamble was that Ao Bai would enter the palace without armor, that Ao Bai would not bring a knife, and that the group of young men would be fearless and undaunted.

If any link in the chain goes wrong, history will have to be rewritten.

"I am a time traveler, with knowledge hundreds of years ahead of this era. How can I, like the original Emperor Kangxi, risk my entire life in a hand-to-hand combat?"

"That's so low-tech, it has no technical skill whatsoever!"

Hong Xiguan shook his head, a hint of excited joy flashing in his eyes.

He had a backup plan!

firearm!

That's right, it's firearms!

No matter how hard your fists are, can they be harder than a bullet? No matter how fast your movements are, can they be faster than a gun?

My lord, times have changed!

Thinking of this, Hong Xiguan couldn't help but smile slightly.

Imagine having a "Western showdown" with the all-powerful Ao Bai in the Forbidden City—just thinking about it is thrilling.

He wanted to equip each of his young wolf cubs with a short, powerful, easy-to-carry pistol that could kill in a critical moment!

The development of firearms in the Ming Dynasty was not actually backward; the three-eyed gun and the bird-beak gun both shone brightly.

However, after the Qing army entered the pass, they established the country based on archery and horsemanship, and did not attach great importance to firearms. They even rejected them, considering them to be the strange and ingenious skills of the "southern barbarians".

Hong Xiguan specifically asked Suo'etu about it.

Although the Qing army at that time had a small number of cumbersome matchlock musket units, it did not have any firearms for individual close combat like hand cannons.

Was the technology lost? Or was it deliberately suppressed by those Manchu nobles?

Never mind, if I don't have any, I'll make my own!

The problem is, who should we get to build it?

Those craftsmen in the Imperial Workshop are good at making a dragon throne by deceiving and tricking people, but asking them to make precision firearms? They'd probably blow themselves up first.

Hong Xiguan frantically searched his meager historical knowledge.

Suddenly, an image of a foreigner with a white beard and glasses popped out from the corner of my memory.

Johann Adam Schall von Bell!

"Holy crap! I almost forgot about this guy!"

Hong Xiguan slapped his thigh.

This old man is no ordinary person; he's a real big shot who's been featured in history textbooks!

The German missionary Johann Adam Schall von Bell, whose real name was Adam Schall, came to China during the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty. He learned fluent Chinese in Macau and then made his way to the capital of the Ming Dynasty, where he entered the Imperial Observatory.

The most impressive thing about this guy is that he not only knows how to read stars and fix calendars, but he's also a top-notch arms expert!

When Emperor Chongzhen was overwhelmed with the war in Liaodong, this guy stepped forward and, by imperial decree, opened a cannon foundry, producing more than 500 cannons for the Ming army in one go.

It is said that these "Tang's cannons" bombarded the Eight Banners army so badly that they cried out for their fathers and mothers, suffering heavy casualties.

Logically speaking, based on this alone, it would be too lenient for the Qing army not to execute Johann Adam Schall von Bell after entering the pass.

But this guy's integrity... is practically nonexistent.

As soon as the Qing army entered Beijing, Johann Adam Schall von Bell immediately turned around, grabbed his newly revised "Western New Calendar," and eagerly presented it to Regent Dorgon.

When Dorgon took one look, he exclaimed, "Wow, this foreign thing is great! It's much more accurate than our shamanic rituals for calculating dates!"

The emperor was overjoyed.

Johann Adam Schall von Bell transformed himself from a meritorious official of the Ming Dynasty into the Director of the Imperial Observatory of the Qing Dynasty.

After Emperor Shunzhi assumed personal rule, he showed even greater favor to Johann Adam Schall von Bell, visiting him daily and affectionately calling him "Mafa" (Manchu for "grandfather").

Even Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang recognized this foreign old man as her "godfather".

This interpersonal relationship was an incredibly difficult start, yet Johann Adam Schall von Bell managed to turn it into a perfect game!

A man who could build cannons to kill the ancestors of the Eight Banners could still be worshipped as their grandfather... It's magical, it's just too magical!

But for me, this is a treasure bestowed by heaven!

Hong Xiguan felt much more at ease.

If they can build five hundred cannons, then building a few dozen handguns is a piece of cake.

……

The next day.

The Imperial Observatory Office.

This ancient building, located east of Tiananmen Square and behind the Ministry of Rites, appears exceptionally solemn and mysterious.

Unlike the hustle and bustle of other government offices in the capital, this place was so quiet you could hear the stars moving... Of course, that's an exaggeration.

Hong Xiguan, dressed in casual clothes, arrived quietly, surrounded by the imperial eunuch Zhao Chang and several guards.

"His Majesty has arrived!"

As Zhao Chang's distinctive, shrill voice, now choked up, rang out, the entire Imperial Observatory seemed to be put on pause.

Officials and clerks poured out of their rooms and knelt down in a flurry.

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

Hong Xiguan ignored these people and walked straight toward the main hall.

Inside the hall, an elderly man dressed in the official robes of the first rank of the Qing Dynasty, but with a foreign face that was high-nosed and deep-set, was wearing a pair of peculiar crystal glasses. He was engrossed in a pile of star charts and ancient books, completely unaware of what was happening.

Until Zhao Chang coughed heavily.

The old man seemed to wake from a dream, and suddenly raised his head.

Upon seeing the Qing emperor in his dragon robe, Johann Adam Schall von Bell was taken aback at first, then hurriedly took off his glasses, intending to kneel in worship.

He was too old, over seventy, and his movements appeared clumsy and comical.

No need for formalities.

Hong Xiguan spoke calmly, his voice carrying a hint of politeness.

"Master Tongxuan, there's no need for such formalities."

The title "Teacher of Profound Understanding" was bestowed upon Johann Adam Schall von Bell by the Shunzhi Emperor. However, due to the Kangxi Emperor's rank, the character "玄" (xuan) in Xuan Ye's name was avoided. Nowadays, others refer to Johann Adam Schall von Bell as "Teacher of Subtle Understanding." Hong Xiguan, however, does not need to avoid using his own name and still refers to him as Teacher of Profound Understanding.

Hong Xiguan couldn't bring himself to call her "Mafa".

"You want me to call a foreigner 'Grandpa'? Forget it! I've never done that in my entire life!"

Upon hearing this title, a flicker of excitement flashed in Johann Adam Schall von Bell's cloudy blue eyes.

He spoke in a strange Beijing accent: "This old minister... pays his respects to Your Majesty. I was unaware of Your Majesty's presence and have failed to greet you properly. I deserve to die for this crime."

"Teacher, you're exaggerating."

Hong Xiguan walked to his side and looked with great interest at the astrolabes and instruments on the table that he could not understand at all.

Among them was a simple astronomical telescope made of brass.

Wow, is this the same model that Emperor Chongzhen used to look at the stars? It's an antique!

Hong Xiguan waved his hand, signaling everyone else to step back.

The atmosphere inside the vast observatory instantly became somewhat subtle.

Johann Adam Schall von Bell was filled with anxiety.

Since ascending the throne, this young emperor has lived a secluded life and has never set foot in the Imperial Observatory.

What brings you here today?

Did they come to check the calendar? Or... did they listen to the slander of Yang Guangxian and his gang and come to punish this "foreign devil"?