Chapter 244: The Era of Ming Firearms Arrives

The matter grew bigger and bigger, and within just one hour, the news had already spread throughout the entire capital.

Everyone already knew about the kneeling remonstrance at the Western Park, and also knew that at the gates of the Western Park, the Emperor's attitude had been very resolute.

And so under such circumstances, public opinion began to take on a bewildering variety of forms.

For Zhu Youxiao, this was a situation he had long anticipated, so he summoned Chen Hong before him.

After a glance at Chen Hong, Zhu Youxiao said, "There is one matter I am entrusting you to handle."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Chen Hong said hurriedly.

Looking at the reverently deferential Chen Hong, Zhu Youxiao felt somewhat helpless. Clearly, this act of his had made many people realize one thing — that he was an Emperor who could truly bring down the blade.

This way, there were both advantages and disadvantages.

The advantage was that it made them fear him all the more. The so-called authority — first there is power, and then there is awe. His imperial awe had now been established, albeit through violent means.

As for the disadvantage, it could only be that it made them keep even greater distance from him. This was not something they could choose to do or not do, but rather an instinctive human reaction.

When faced with something dangerous, people instinctively want to stay away. And right now, he was that dangerous thing.

Glancing at Chen Hong, Zhu Youxiao said, "Arrange some people to go gather intelligence throughout the capital. Also spread some messages out — say that these people were pressuring the throne, and that they have failed in their duty as ministers."

"No matter what thoughts or opinions they have, they should not have resorted to such methods. They should have gone through proper channels — submitting routine memorials, or offering admonishment at the morning court."

This method of Zhu Youxiao's had a very well-known name in later generations — it was called managing the narrative.

This was what Zhu Youxiao intended to do — steer public opinion toward the side favorable to him. Though the effect might not necessarily be good, if he did nothing, then public sentiment would certainly be allowed to develop in a direction unfavorable to him.

So this matter of steering public opinion had to be done, no matter what the effect turned out to be.

Chen Hong said hurriedly, "Yes, Your Majesty. This servant will arrange people right away."

This matter was not particularly difficult for Chen Hong, because even before this, he had already done this sort of thing more than once — the Embroidered Uniform Guard had long since possessed such personnel.

Throughout the capital, he had also kept quite a number of people, great and small. So this task was something he could handle with practiced ease.

Chen Hong turned and left to carry out the task.

After Chen Hong had gone, Zhu Youxiao leaned back in his chair, gazing at the lake water in the distance, and suddenly felt a bit cold.

It really seemed autumn was approaching. That was right — it would soon be the ninth month.

Come to think of it, more than half a year had passed in the blink of an eye, and he had accomplished no small number of things.

Autumn was coming — this was the season of harvest, and he too could be said to have reaped his harvest.

While Zhu Youxiao was indulging in this melancholy musing, the atmosphere within the Grand Secretariat was somewhat oppressive, even carrying a hint of autumn's grim severity.

After the four Grand Secretaries returned from the gates of the Western Park, the atmosphere in the Grand Secretariat became even more strange.

Everyone knew that this matter had blown up big, and that the four Grand Secretaries would likely come under no small amount of attack.

No one dared to say anything at such a time, for fear of provoking one of them and then being dealt with by their hands.

However, unlike the caution of the others, the atmosphere among the four Grand Secretaries themselves was quite calm. The reason was simple — they were all grasshoppers tied to the same rope.

Though there was much discord among them, and each one's thoughts were not entirely the same, and behind each of them stood a group of people representing different interests, this time their objective was identical.

After the four men entered the duty room, each took his seat, and tea and refreshments were laid out.

After the four had drunk a few mouthfuls of tea, Han Kuang was the first to speak. His gaze sweeping across the other three, he said, "Let the people under us get to work. Just watching the show the whole time is not good."

The other three nodded, and then said, "We'll pass the word down when we get back."

The meaning was obvious — have the people under their command step forward to impeach those who had stirred up trouble, which was, to put it plainly, steering the rhythm of the discourse.

This way, they could alleviate the pressure of public opinion on the Grand Secretariat, and also lay the groundwork for the Grand Secretariat's future actions.

"Also, get the matter of Zhang Juzheng moving as soon as possible — don't let there be any oversight." Han Kuang added another instruction.

The three men nodded once more.

This was an agreement they had long since reached, so naturally there was no problem in carrying it out.

Today the assembled ministers had made such a scene before His Majesty, and His Majesty had spoken those words to the four of them — reform was now inevitable.

This was equivalent to the four of them having made a pledge before His Majesty; if they did not follow through, there would be no good outcome.

"As for other matters, don't pay them too much attention — each of you tend to your own affairs." In the end, Han Kuang said this one sentence, putting a definitive stamp on the matter, marking a thorough and complete severance.

By the afternoon, public opinion began to turn.

Throughout the capital, countless people began spreading news of the caning of the crowd at the Western Park, and also of those who had come to blows over differences of opinion.

For a time, the direction of public opinion was in complete disarray.

But in the court itself, the direction was very unified. Everyone was condemning the methods of those people, criticizing them for what was nothing less than pressuring the throne.

At the same time, some submitted routine memorials demanding severe punishment for those people, and the one leaping the highest among them was Cui Chengxiu of the Censorate.

Compared to the men of the four Grand Secretaries, Cui Chengxiu had fewer scruples, and was also more daring in what he said.

But everyone could see clearly that although these people were leaping about quite vigorously, and public opinion was rather chaotic, the matter would ultimately have to reach some conclusion.

And that conclusion was very likely not what everyone hoped for.

Within the Western Park.

Zhu Youxiao looked at Wei Zhongxian kneeling on the ground, waved his hand, and said, "Alright, get up."

Wei Zhongxian rose to his feet, stood respectfully to one side, and waited for his master's questioning.

"How many people did you arrest?" Zhu Youxiao asked in a flat tone.

"To report to Your Majesty, twenty-three people were arrested in total. The rest were all dispersed." Wei Zhongxian said hurriedly.

At this moment, Wei Zhongxian's heart was filled with trepidation — he wanted to know what His Majesty planned to do with these people. If they were let off lightly, then he was afraid he himself would be in trouble.

Setting down the teacup in his hand, Zhu Youxiao said expressionlessly, "Interrogate them thoroughly — see whether they had any collusion. If anyone confesses and names others, arrest them all."

"Also, look into how they have conducted themselves as officials on ordinary days — whether there is any corruption. If there is corruption, then handle it as it should be handled. Put some care into it."

"If there is no corruption, then release them all. Oh, and those who were involved in the collusion — make a record of all of them as well."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Wei Zhongxian acknowledged, and his tone was filled entirely with excitement.

This was a good thing for him — it was a matter of expanding his power — so Wei Zhongxian was very glad to do it.

Seeing Zhu Youxiao wave his hand, Wei Zhongxian hurriedly bowed and withdrew.

After Wei Zhongxian had left, Zhu Youxiao picked up his tea and took a sip.

Though he too wished to deal with these people, he could not do so just like that — it needed to be done step by step.

First let Wei Zhongxian interrogate and arrest them; once the results were out, then deal with them all at once.

Just as Zhu Youxiao was thinking of resting for a while, Chen Hong walked in from outside again.

He came before Zhu Youxiao, bowed, and said: "Your Majesty, Grand Secretary Xu requests an audience."

Zhu Youxiao had not expected Xu Guangqi to come at this time, so he nodded and said: "Let him in."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Chen Hong acknowledged, then turned and went out to receive him.

Soon Xu Guangqi walked in under Chen Hong's guidance.

Upon seeing Zhu Youxiao, Xu Guangqi performed the ritual greeting and said: "Your subject Xu Guangqi pays respects to Your Majesty."

"Enough, no need for ceremony." Zhu Youxiao said with a smile.

After Xu Guangqi straightened up, Zhu Youxiao asked calmly: "My dear minister, have you come for some matter?"

"In reply to Your Majesty, there are indeed some matters I wish to report to Your Majesty." Xu Guangqi said.

Zhu Youxiao nodded and said: "Then go ahead and speak."

"The progress at the Hundred Crafts Institute has been very good lately. I had originally planned to report to Your Majesty in the next few days, but I never expected such an incident to occur."

"In the end, I still must tell Your Majesty. The prototype of the flintlock musket has been completed." Xu Guangqi said.

Hearing these words from Xu Guangqi, Zhu Youxiao immediately perked up, hastily sitting up straight and saying: "Tell me in detail."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Xu Guangqi nodded and continued: "Through the efforts of everyone at the Hundred Crafts Institute, all the production difficulties of the flintlock musket have been overcome, so there is no problem with commencing production."

"The prototype has also been fully designed. Once Your Majesty has reviewed it, mass production can begin. The first trial batch will be one thousand pieces, to first see how they perform. If the results are good, then subsequent production will start."

"In addition, progress has also been made in the rifling of cannons. The Hundred Crafts Institute has already been able to engrave rifling inside the barrels of bronze cannons."

"But there are still some problems in the development of steel cannons. Still, progress has been fairly smooth — they have begun gradually reducing the proportion of copper. Your subject believes it will not be long before fully steel cannons can be achieved."

Hearing Xu Guangqi's words, Zhu Youxiao immediately became excited.

This was a rare piece of good news in this period, something that could make him happy.

If the flintlock musket was fully developed, it meant that the Great Ming's firearms had entered a new stage.

Beyond that, if cannons could have rifling engraved, then it meant they could strike targets with precision — this was very important for enhancing the power of cannons.

Additionally, steel cannon production had also gotten on the right track. Though fully steel cannons were not yet possible for the time being, this was already very good.

Steel cannons replacing bronze cannons was an inevitability of historical development. Though bronze had better malleability, its output was low and its cost high.

Steel did not have these shortcomings; at the same time, steel cannons could achieve lighter weight and larger caliber — these were also the advantages of steel cannons.

So it was upon hearing these two pieces of news that Zhu Youxiao was so excited.

"Very good. I will go to the Hundred Crafts Institute tomorrow to take a look." Zhu Youxiao said with a smile.

He truly had not expected the Hundred Crafts Institute's progress to be so fast — it seemed those people had indeed put in heart and effort.

But Zhu Youxiao also knew that Xu Guangqi coming to tell him these things was precisely to claim merit for them.

Still, this merit had to be granted — one could not let people's hearts grow cold. So going over in person tomorrow himself was very necessary.

Praising them a little and giving some rewards to give them more motivation — that was what he, as the Emperor, ought to do.

"Aside from the Hundred Crafts Institute, there are also results from the imperial estates." Xu Guangqi spoke again.

"At the beginning of the year, I opened up farmland at the imperial estates and began trying to plant new crops. Some yielded good results, but some were rather unsatisfactory."

"However, the sweet potatoes have produced results — judging by their growth they should be quite good, and they have already matured. I was thinking of digging them all up and then seeing how the results turn out."

Xu Guangqi said with a smile on his face: "If they prove suitable, then next year we can attempt to promote them."

In fact, when it came to planting sweet potatoes, Xu Guangqi was extremely devoted.

The reason was also simple — as an official with foresight who could get things done, he naturally knew what grain meant in this era.

Only when people could fill their bellies could other matters be discussed.

Zhu Youxiao was also very clear on this point, so he said with a smile: "This truly is a fine matter. I must go see it in person."

Even more than Xu Guangqi, Zhu Youxiao knew what this grain represented.

The Great Ming was growing ever more unsettled — natural disasters were increasing across the regions, and mixed in with them were man-made calamities, making the lives of the common people even harder.

If he did not set about solving this problem, the Great Ming would still be covered in the smoke of war everywhere. That was something he was unwilling to see.

Man-made calamities could still be controlled, but natural disasters truly could not be helped. The earth was unstable, and he could not make the earth stable. So solving the grain problem would forever be ranked first.

With grain in the storehouse, the heart does not panic — whether for the common people or the Emperor, this principle was the same.

Even just successfully growing potatoes would be a great help.

Though later generations did not treat potatoes as a staple food, in this era of the Great Ming, having potatoes as a staple was still better than having nothing to eat.

Besides, there were countries that used potatoes as a staple food — there was nothing that could not be eaten. One could try other methods, like making potato cakes, or other ways.

Zhu Youxiao did not know much about this aspect, but he could let the common people figure it out themselves. After all, the wisdom of the people was inexhaustible — they would find on their own how to eat them, and how to eat them deliciously.

He just wondered — would eating too many potatoes cause flatulence? Would it upset the stomach?

Shaking his head to cast out these jumbled thoughts, Zhu Youxiao thought to himself whether they could research making some vermicelli noodles, then turn them into cold jelly noodles, or hot and sour noodles, becoming a high-end aristocratic food.

Letting the common people make them and sell them could also count as a source of income.

Xu Guangqi watched the lost-in-thought Zhu Youxiao and did not disturb him.

The reason was simple — this was not the first time His Majesty's mind had wandered during a conversation.

He had already grown accustomed to it, and naturally would not disturb His Majesty at such a time. Quietly waiting was the proper way.

After a long while, Zhu Youxiao finally pulled himself back from his wandering thoughts.

Glancing at Xu Guangqi, whose expression was perfectly composed, Zhu Youxiao said: "Tomorrow I will go with you. Oh, tomorrow won't work — tomorrow I need to go to the Hundred Crafts Institute."

"Then let it be the day after tomorrow. I will go with you to the Imperial Estate to see the results of your nearly a year of hard work, my dear minister."