Chapter 183: Talent Can Plan the Country

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao seemed to have long been accustomed to Jia Cong's strangeness, but hearing these words, his spirit was also lifted, and his gaze revealed thoughts of reverie.

"Well said! Giving people fish is not as good as teaching them how to fish. Chengshi Lang's words are very much in line with my wishes. The practice of recruiting capable Western barbarians and screening and teaching firearm craftsmen is indeed feasible."

He asked Jia Cong again: "Now the Ministry of War is preparing to establish the Five Military Firearm Battalion. Do you have any suggestions for the establishment of the Firearm Battalion?"

Jia Cong expounded on his thoughts on the establishment of the Firearm Battalion, military regulations, equipment, ammunition, training assessment, and killing array coordination, choosing the essential points.

The Marquis of Zhongjing, Shi Ding, on the side had already listened with his mouth wide open.

Jia Cong's strategy for the Firearm Battalion, if others heard it, might only feel it was a strange idea, bizarre and complicated.

But for this month, Shi Ding had been focused on selecting soldiers and training firearms.

He had more practical experience in how to prepare for the establishment of the Firearm Battalion than the Minister of War, Gu Yankui, and he felt more deeply about Jia Cong's remarks than others.

Among the strategies for establishing the camp in Jia Cong's plan, he had also thought of several points.

But seeing the end of the memorial, there were several diagrams of firearms, and detailed text was marked on them.

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao smiled: "I didn't expect that the strategy for establishing the Firearm Battalion would be able to generate such complicated and meticulous routines in Chengshi Lang's mouth, which is refreshing."

He asked: "Chengshi Lang, what do these diagrams mean?"

But it was far from being as comprehensive as Jia Cong's system. He vaguely realized that the various wonderful strategies Jia Cong just described didn't look like they were imagined out of thin air, but rather like they were deeply familiar with practical work and tempered a hundred times.

Shi Ding was a military general, and there were not so many twists and turns in his heart as the civil officials. Jia Cong was his junior after all. These words were not scene words, but sincere words.

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao was proficient in government affairs and had seen countless memorials of various kinds. The memorials written by various civil officials were all parallel prose, with beautiful words, and the content was only three or four out of ten.

And the content here, from establishing departments, educating people, making weapons, building armies, training soldiers, to logistics, etc., all had detailed discussions, which was simply a model article for building an army with firearms.

Jia Cong said again: "Reporting to Your Majesty, yesterday I received Your Majesty's oral decree to enter the palace for consultation, so I stayed up all night to write my humble opinions on the establishment of the Firearm Battalion into a memorial. Everything I just said is included in it. Please Your Majesty's review."

"Your Majesty, the humble minister has been focused on training firearm soldiers recently, and there are many insights and experiences, but there are also many difficulties. The strategies mentioned by Chengshi Lang just now have great hills and valleys, which have also benefited the humble minister a lot."

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao's eyes lit up. The imperial decree was transmitted to the palace only at sunset yesterday. The time was so urgent, but he had made such sufficient preparations for the consultation.

This had made Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao, who was extremely pragmatic, annoyed, and there was also criticism in the court, saying that the current Emperor had the flaw of lacking literature.

At a young age, he was so sophisticated and diligent in handling affairs, and he already had the demeanor of a capable minister.

Even for someone like Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao, who had deep knowledge of government affairs, he felt excited.

"It seems that it was right to let you come for consultation today."

The first thing that caught his eye was the handsome and outstanding calligraphy, and then the dense, clearly listed strategies.

But how could this be possible? He was just a child, hadn't even entered the military camp, probably hadn't touched a firearm a few times, how could he say such meticulous and appropriate strategies for building an army with firearms?

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao naturally knew Shi Ding's temperament. Jia Cong's words could be recognized by this veteran general in the army, which showed that what he just said was indeed a fair and practical argument.

Therefore, Jia Cong's memorial, which was logically meticulous, without any embellishment, and extremely practical, could be said to be very much to Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao's taste.

The memorial also mentioned establishing a special firearm department, responsible for recruiting Western barbarian technicians, cultivating firearm craftsmen, and researching and improving firearms.

Guo Lin on the side took Jia Cong's memorial and presented it to Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao.

The words he just said in the consultation were indeed all in the memorial, and the description and explanation were more detailed and meticulous.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, when I was in Jin Ling, I led Prince Ning's firearm team to encircle and suppress Japanese ronin, and watched the firing process of the Lu Mi gun at close range, and noticed its shortcomings."

"If the barrel can be lengthened, the gun body can be weighted, and the steel material of the barrel can be refined, the range and accuracy of the firearm can be improved. In addition, steel thorns can be added to the gun body, which can be used for close-quarters combat."

"However, this is just my deduction, and it needs to be implemented by firearm craftsmen to determine its actual effect."

Originally, this strategy for establishing the Firearm Battalion, with its meticulous system and ideas that others had never had, was enough to shock and amaze Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao, Shi Ding, Gu Yankui, and others.

Unexpectedly, Jia Cong even involved the improvement of firearms in the memorial, and there were detailed diagrams and operation descriptions.

This was not something that could be thought of in a rush overnight after receiving the oral decree in the palace, but something he had already pondered since participating in the actual combat of the Lu Mi gun in Jin Ling, which showed his deep intention.

At this time, Minister of War Gu Yankui suddenly said: "Reporting to Your Majesty, Chengshi Lang is proficient in the method of firearms and is a rare and capable talent. I request Your Majesty to grant permission for Chengshi Lang to enter the Ministry of War to observe government."

As soon as this was said, Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao and Shi Ding were both shocked, and Shi Ding was even more regretful in his heart, actually being snatched a step ahead by this old Gu.

In fact, he had long been moved after hearing Jia Cong talk about the method of building an army and training soldiers.

The "observing government" mentioned by Gu Yankui had always been used for successful candidates in the imperial examination.

After the imperial examination, before being appointed to an official position, people would be sent to various yamen to study and practice, so that they could better perform their duties after being appointed.

And Jia Cong was only a scholar, and according to the convention, he had no qualifications to observe government.

But since there were heaven-chosen talents in this world, there could naturally be exceptions.

Jia Cong first proposed the three-stage firing method, and now wrote such a complete strategy for establishing the Firearm Battalion, which was enough to prove that he had special talent in this area.

So Gu Yankui's proposal to let him enter the Ministry of War to observe government was not abrupt.

At this time, the Marquis of Zhongjing, Shi Ding, also said: "Your Majesty, Chengshi Lang's words just now show that he has the talent to lead troops and soldiers, and he is also a descendant of the Rongguo military family."

"I request Your Majesty to allow him to enter the Five Military Battalions to assist the humble minister in coordinating the Firearm Battalion. In a few years, I will definitely bring out a wise general in the army for Your Majesty."

Gu Yankui raised his eyebrows when he heard this, and said: "The Marquis of Zhongjing is wrong. Everyone knows that Jia Chengshi Lang is on the path of the imperial examination and is a famous literary talent in Jiangnan."

"Entering the yamen to manage government is the right path. How can he follow you into the military camp to be a big-headed soldier? That is not decent!"

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao, who was sitting behind the imperial desk, was also stunned to see the two ministers fighting for people in person.

However, with Jia Cong's knowledge of firearm coordination and army-building strategies, it was not strange that Gu Yankui and Shi Ding had such ideas.

The Marquis of Zhongjing, Shi Ding, stared, just about to distinguish, but heard Jia Cong say: "Reporting to Your Majesty, I am very grateful for the care of the two ministers, but I am young and shallow, and I am at the age of reading."

"I intend to focus on the classics and wait for the autumn examination. If the two ministers have special assignments, I will definitely not refuse."

For Jia Cong, he was only a scholar at present. Entering the official career too early and delaying his studies was not a good thing in the long run.

According to his teacher Liu Jing'an's view, he would not suggest that he intervene in the court disputes too early, so as not to be unstable, be coveted by others, break new branches early, and cause accidents.

And at his age, at this time, waiting for the two ministers to argue, watching the tiger, and waiting to be an official, the eating was ugly, which was a bit shocking.

Whether for public or private reasons, declining was the right way.

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao thought for a moment and really said: "Chengshi Lang is also at the age of ambition, and it is human nature to have the idea of reading. And his fame has not yet been promoted, so this matter will be discussed later."

But Gu Yankui and Shi Ding were both close ministers of Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao and knew something about the Emperor's temperament, so they had already heard that the Emperor was moved by their suggestions.

It was just that Jia Cong was too young, and as a scholar, he would cause public controversy if he were granted a position.

They had previously memorialized to add Jia Cong the position of observing government and coordinating, which was indeed to borrow his talent in firearms.

But to grant such a key practical position to a thirteen-year-old teenager, with Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao's rigor and meticulousness, and the national official regulations, they all knew that it would mostly be rejected.

But with such advice first, if they wanted to borrow Jia Cong's ability later, whether it was the Ministry of War's strategy consultation or the Firearm Battalion's consultation, it would all become logical.

This was the real intention of these old gluttons in the officialdom. Obviously, Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao also knew these tricks. Both were for the sake of national affairs, so he didn't point it out.

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao suddenly changed the subject and asked Jia Cong: "Yesterday, the attendant who returned the imperial decree reported that you are now unable to enter the Rongguo Prefecture and are staying in an inn?"

Gu Yankui and Shi Ding on the side looked over involuntarily, hearing the Emperor suddenly ask about topics unrelated to the consultation, and felt a bit strange in their hearts.

Unable to enter the residence, staying in an inn, how did it sound like this teenager was kicked out of the house.

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 184 =====