Who killed the Ming Dynasty?

Among the stacks of memorials on the emperor's desk, a few yellowed pages stood out—

That was a secret report from a private workshop, submitted by the prefect of Quanzhou on the orders of the emperor.

Zhu Cilang picked up the secret report, his voice turning serious:

"Don't you know? The art of firearms is no longer a secret."

"The rigid system of registering artisans meant that official artisans often privately manufactured items to make a living."

"The maritime ban had loopholes, and private workshops, driven by profit, produced exquisite works, which foreign merchants bought at high prices."

"It seems the Ministry of Works will have to learn from the common people regarding its model!"

Zhu Cilang's statement is supported by fact: at that time, civilian-made guns were indeed superior to those made by the government.

Zhao Shizhen's "Treatise on Divine Weapons" clearly states:

I have heard that foreign trade routes between the East and West specifically purchase firearms from Guangdong. The firearms sold by the common people to these foreigners are of extremely high quality, while those manufactured for the government are of inferior quality.

This passage by Zhao Shizhen reveals a peculiar phenomenon in the manufacture of firearms among the common people during the Ming Dynasty:

If Guangdong craftsmen produce for foreign merchants, they strive for perfection.

If it was made by the government, then it was done perfunctorily.

The root cause lies in the fact that private workshops were driven by the market, and foreign merchants purchased them at high prices with silver, while state-run artisans were bound by the artisan registration system and lacked incentives.

Zhao Shizhen went straight to the heart of the matter.

This phenomenon proves that Chinese craftsmen "are not incapable of craftsmanship, but rather unwilling to do so," directly pointing to the deep-seated problems of the Ming Dynasty's military industrial system.

Zhu Cilang, reflecting on Zhao Shizhen's argument, continued:

"Are you all aware of this?"

"The muskets produced by the Lin family workshop in Quanzhou can fire a thousand bullets without exploding—could your ordnance bureau possibly achieve that?"

The eunuch Han Zanzhou received the secret report, and the vermilion annotation on the inner page, "Lin Ji's musket has been tested a thousand times without exploding," caught his eye.

Gao Zhuo suddenly looked up, a hint of offended anger flashing in his eyes:

"How can a country bumpkin, who obtained it by chance, be compared to a finely crafted official instrument?"

His tone was dismissive, tinged with strong skepticism.

"Your Majesty, I implore you to investigate this matter thoroughly. Such rumors circulating in the marketplace are likely exaggerated by unscrupulous merchants for profit. They should be thoroughly investigated to set the record straight!"

He straightened his back, displaying the "professional" arrogance of a high-ranking official in the Ministry of Works.

Zhu Cilang looked at Gao Zhuo:

"Gao Qing...does this mean you don't believe me?"

Gao Zhuo met the emperor's gaze and spoke resolutely, word by word:

"Your Majesty! I absolutely cannot believe this!"

These five words resonated deeply.

He was a high-ranking official in the Ministry of Works of the Ming Dynasty. He had a systematic approach to professional matters and a team of skilled craftsmen. He simply did not believe that civilian firearms could surpass those of the official ones.

"Even the Ordnance Bureau, which spends hundreds of thousands of national funds, cannot match this. How could a mere private workshop, a group of crude blacksmiths and shoe sellers, possibly possess such extraordinary abilities?"

"This is utterly deceitful and treacherous talk!"

Zhu Cilang had anticipated the Ministry of Works' arrogance and raised his voice:

"Han Zanzhou".

The eunuch standing to the side stepped forward.

"The Lin family is mentioned."

Han Zanzhou accepted the order, bowed, and retreated to the palace gate. His shrill voice pierced through the hall:

"Announcement—The Lin family of Quanzhou requests an audience! Bring gunpowder and lead pellets."

"Gunpowder pellets?"

Gao Zhuo suddenly looked up, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

Wang Zhaoxing fell to his knees with a thud, his voice trembling uncontrollably:

"Your Majesty...Your Majesty! Fire in front of the palace! Ancestral rules forbid it! How can weapons and murderous instruments be allowed near the throne?!"

He simply couldn't believe it:

"Testing firearms before the palace?"

"This...this..."

Sunlight cut diamond-shaped spots of light on the blue bricks inside the hall, while footsteps approached from outside.

When Han Zanzhou lifted the brocade curtain, a gust of wind carrying the metallic smell of iron wafted in.

Two young eunuchs hurried forward, one carrying a strip of material wrapped in bright yellow cloth.

The other person was holding an open tray, on which ten pre-packaged, measured quantities of gunpowder and lead pellets were neatly arranged.

The smell of gunpowder instantly filled the air.

The man following behind was thin as a sword, and his plain cotton robe had a few barely noticeable gunpowder burn marks on the hem.

"This humble subject, Lin Yuan, kowtows to Your Majesty."

His voice was deep and resonant, with a distinctive Fujian accent.

This man was wearing a "craftsman's certificate" issued by the Ministry of Works hanging from his waist.

Although it was the lowest level of folk craftsman's license, it meant that the person's skills had been recognized by the government.

Zhu Cilang's gaze fell upon him—this was the talent the prefect of Quanzhou had sought out for the imperial court:

"I've heard that Lin Qing's musket can fire a thousand bullets without exploding?"

Lin Yuan hesitated for a moment, then took out a thin book from his robes and presented it with both hands:

"Your Majesty, this is my record of gun testing over the years. Please take a look."

Han Zanzhou took the booklet and unfolded it on the table.

The yellowed pages were densely covered with dates, numbers of bullets, and even the slightest signs of wear, all written in neat handwriting.

Gao Zhuo couldn't help but take half a step closer, and just then he saw the annotations in small vermilion characters on the last page:

"In the winter of the fourteenth year of Chongzhen's reign, the 1003rd test firing of the gun was conducted. The gun barrel was slightly warm, without cracks or swelling."

Looking at the annotations, Gao Zhuo couldn't help but say:

"Who knows if it's a hastily made forgery? Folk craftsmen are masters of deception!"

He suppressed a hint of instinctive surprise and doubt, and his tone became even harsher.

Lin Yuan suppressed his resentment:

"Your Majesty,"

He held up the musket wrapped in yellow cloth with both hands.

"This humble citizen has dared to bring this gun with me."

Han Zanzhou took the musket, and Zhu Cilang touched the barrel through the yellow cloth:

"good--"

"Lin Yuan, Minister Gao of the Ministry of Works doesn't believe your musket can fire a thousand bullets without exploding."

"I want you to fire ten shots with the guns you brought right here in front of the palace corridor! Let all the officials see it for themselves!"

These words shocked the entire hall!

Firearms were used in front of the palace! How horrifying!

Wang Zhaoxing almost fainted.

Lin Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly, then he regained his composure and bowed deeply.

"This humble subject obeys the decree!"

Without hesitation, he stood up, walked to Han Zanzhou who was holding the gun, and calmly unveiled the yellow cloth.

When the musket was fully revealed, everyone's eyes were drawn to its shiny black barrel.

Lin Yuan took the flintlock pistol and then took a portion of gunpowder and lead pellets from the eunuch's tray.

Under the watchful eyes of countless astonished figures, Lin Yuan strode towards the wide corridor outside the palace gate.

The people inside the hall involuntarily surged towards the inside of the hall door.

Lin Yuan stood still, poured the medicine into the chamber, inserted the lead pellet, pressed it down with a tamping rod, and attached the ignition rope to the firebox.

The movements were fluid and fast, so fast that it was difficult to keep up with the pace.

He turned sideways, raised his gun, and aimed at the thick wooden target that had been prepared under the eaves, his eyes fixed on the bullseye.

"boom!"

The first gunshot ripped through the silence!

A pungent white smoke suddenly billowed up!

The thick wooden target under the eaves suddenly trembled, splintering wood chips everywhere, revealing a lead ball embedded in its very center.

Gao Zhuo's pupils contracted sharply as he stared intently at Lin Yuan's figure, which was faintly visible in the white smoke.

Wang Zhaoxing instinctively took a half step back.

Lin Yuan's movements didn't stop at all!

Loading, compacting, ignition—"Boom!" The second explosion!

Faster! More stable! The lead shot almost hit the bullseye again!

"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!..."

The continuous, popping sounds of gunfire erupted like popping beans!

Smoke billowed into the palace gates, and the light suddenly dimmed.

Smoke billowed and swirled in the corridor, completely engulfing Lin Yuan's figure.

Only the steady loading action flashed by in the gaps of smoke.

Nine shots! Ten shots!

As the echoes of the tenth explosion still reverberated among the beams and pillars of the palace, Lin Yuan's figure was clearly revealed from the smoke.

Gao Zhuo's burly body swayed suddenly, and he staggered back half a step before barely managing to stand still.

His lifelong belief in the ironclad rule of "official products are of superior quality" and "folk products are crude" shattered into dust before ten shots hit the mark.