Chapter 171: Pioneering the Age of Firearms

Arriving at the door of the warm pavilion, Li Chun, who had just been putting on airs like a man of high station, instantly became deferential and respectful. Standing outside the door, he said in a low voice: "Reporting to Your Majesty, the two venerable gentlemen Bi Maokang and Bi Maoliang have arrived."

Before long, a slightly weary voice came from within the door: "Have them come in."

"Once you go inside, by no means mention the Fushe Society or the Donglin Faction before His Majesty — those scholars have been troubling His Majesty quite enough lately!" Li Chun acknowledged with a sound, then standing to one side, spoke without moving his head.

"Thank you, Eunuch Li, for the guidance." Bi Maokang and Bi Maoliang exchanged a glance, made their perfunctory thanks, and stepped inside.

"Your servant Bi Maokang pays homage to His Majesty, may His Majesty live ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!"

"Seats for them." The Chongzhen Emperor looked at the Capital Gazette before him without any particular excitement, merely waving a hand toward the side and saying flatly:

"This time it was Director Song of the Armory Bureau who recommended the two of you to me as directors of the Armory Bureau. I have also read the 'Illustrated Treatise on Military Implements' carefully. I have already ordered that every official in every ministry be given a copy. From this book, it is clear that the two of you have researched firearms quite deeply."

When the Chongzhen Emperor reached this point, the two men hurriedly lifted their half-seated posteriors off the chairs. Bi Maokang bowed and stood, saying: "We are ashamed, Your Majesty. The imperial grace is vast as the sea, and we are deeply filled with trepidation."

"At present, the Shenji Camp uses matchlock muskets, and even those matchlocks are mostly crudely made and unfit for serious use. I established the three bureaus including the Armory Bureau precisely to make weapons and equipment independent of the guard stations, supervised and manufactured in the imperial name, so that they may truly be sharp implements." The Chongzhen Emperor flipped through the Capital Gazette of unknown origin in his hands, and at this point suddenly turned to stare at Bi Maokang and Bi Maoliang, asking:

"I have heard from Tang Ruowang and other Westerners that the West has now widely adopted line infantry with flintlock muskets, and something called firing in three ranks. It is said that if flintlocks are combined with the three-rank volley, the effect is excellent — even matchlocks used in three-rank volleys can produce strong and sustained firepower. Is this so?"

Bi Maokang and Bi Maoliang could clearly tell from this point that the Chongzhen Emperor had shifted from his earlier indifferent attitude to a somewhat excited expression — he must place considerable importance on the matter of firearms.

For the two brothers, having devoted their entire lives to firearms, finally receiving the attention of the current Emperor and the court was hardly a bad thing.

The two exchanged a glance, and Bi Maokang stepped forward to say: "Reporting to Your Majesty, the matchlock musket can be traced back to the fire-lance period of the first year of the Kaiqing reign of the Southern Song. From that time on, the Song people attempted to use such weapons, supplementing them with city defense, and thus repeatedly dealt heavy blows to the Jin army."

"As for the three-rank volley formation, our Great Ming has long possessed it. During the Hongwu reign, when Prince Qianning Mu Ying of our dynasty pacified Yunnan, and also under Commander Qi, the Qi Family Army all used it."

The Chongzhen Emperor nodded and was about to say something when Bi Maoliang, Bi Maokang's younger brother, suddenly stepped forward and said: "Reporting to Your Majesty, the three-rank volley tactic is not actually a precedent of our dynasty — but neither is it a precedent of the Western barbarians. As early as the Song dynasty, even the Qin dynasty, our Central Plains already had the tactic of successive volley crossbows!"

"Your Majesty, our dynasty's three-rank volley is thin and weak. If we wish to resist the Dashing King's cavalry or even the Qing slave cavalry, by my estimation, even with flintlocks, nothing fewer than five to eight ranks can hold them back. The effectiveness of three ranks will certainly be insufficient!"

"If Your Majesty truly values our dynasty's firearms, your servant proposes that we first change from three-rank volleys to five-rank volleys. If conditions mature, we may further change to seven-rank or even eight-rank volleys. At that time, by the might of firearms alone, our Great Ming will be enough to strike terror into the hearts of the rebel slaves!"

Bi Maokang grew anxious at these words. This younger brother of his understood nothing — how could he speak ill of his own country before the reigning Emperor? The three-rank volley was, of course, first invented by the Great Ming.

Immediately, Bi Maokang rebuked him angrily: "Nonsense! What right do you have to speak here? Withdraw at once and beg His Majesty's forgiveness!"

"Hahaha." That these two brothers should actually disagree on firearms struck the Chongzhen Emperor as highly amusing. He waved his hand with a smile and said: "No need. Last year I executed treacherous ministers and reestablished the depots and guards precisely so that I would no longer be deceived. Disagreement is a good thing."

"You must remember: only through debate can problems be discovered; only through discovering problems can they be solved; and once solved, our Great Ming will advance. If we were all like the Tatars and Qing, priding ourselves on horsemanship and archery, believing ourselves invincible under heaven — would that not be standing still and courting our own destruction?"

Hearing the Chongzhen Emperor's words, Bi Maokang was immediately struck with awe as if before a sage. Bi Maoliang seemed to have found the kindred spirit of his life, and from that moment regarded the Chongzhen Emperor as his idol. The two exchanged a glance and hurriedly bowed, saying:

"Your Majesty is most sagacious!"

"As for matchlock muskets, at present only the border troops of our dynasty have them to any degree. Most matchlocks elsewhere are old and worn, unfit for serious use. The artisan households at the guard stations are poorly paid and have no heart for casting, so they produce shoddy goods and delay deliveries."

"That is not even to mention that among the matchlocks equipped in the provinces, there are still quite a number from the first batch of imitations made during the Jiajing reign."

"These kinds of matchlocks frequently fail to fire or burst their barrels. In battle they not only struggle to inflict casualties on the enemy, but may even wound our own officers and men before the fighting begins, causing morale to waver — this is why we have suffered repeated defeats against the rebel armies."

"Moreover, even if the quality of the matchlocks were excellent, whenever there is strong wind or heavy rain, they are greatly affected and can hardly produce their proper effect. Your servant believes that developing flintlocks to replace the old matchlocks is a matter of utmost urgency!" Having said this, Bi Maokang even knelt on the ground and began knocking his head with a 'thud, thud,' clearly afraid that the Chongzhen Emperor might suddenly waver — taking the stance of one who remonstrates unto death.

To reassure him, the Chongzhen Emperor gestured for him to rise, then said to those beside him: "Wang Dehua, convey my oral edict: order the Ministry of Revenue to first allocate one million taels of silver for the Armory Bureau's project of improving our dynasty's military firearms."

As he spoke, the Chongzhen Emperor's voice turned cold, and he added: "This matter concerns the very lifeline of our dynasty. Have the Eastern Depot, Western Depot, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard jointly supervise. If anyone dares to embezzle or profit from this, the principal offender shall suffer the punishment of flaying and stuffing with straw, and his ten clans shall be exterminated; accomplices shall all be executed by slow slicing, with their nine clans put to death. There must be no error."

"This servant understands — I shall personally convey His Majesty's oral edict." This was the first time Wang Dehua had heard the Chongzhen Emperor pronounce such severe punishments — the principal offender flayed and stuffed with straw, and even the accomplices sentenced to death by slow slicing.

At once, Wang Dehua understood the depth of the Chongzhen Emperor's regard for firearms, and naturally dared not be negligent. Bowing as he finished speaking, he went straight out of the warm pavilion.

The Chongzhen Emperor's words carried full conviction, with no trace of retreat or weakness. Bi Maokang could also hear this Emperor's determination to reform firearms, and cried out with great excitement:

"Long live His Majesty, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!"

Bi Maoliang likewise had not expected that in just these few years, the reigning Emperor would have changed so greatly. Feeling deeply that the Great Ming's restoration was within reach, he kowtowed repeatedly along with Bi Maokang.

"No need for such ceremony." The Chongzhen Emperor signaled with his eyes for the eunuchs and palace maids at his side to pull the two men up. Clearing his throat, he said solemnly:

"Proclaim the edict."

The ceremonial eunuch at his side, whose face was stern beyond measure, cried out in a shrill voice: "Bi Maokang and Bi Maoliang, hear the edict."

The two men hurriedly prostrated themselves on the ground and, with hearts full of excitement, cried: "Your servants receive the edict!"

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:

Upon investigation, the matter of the 'military implements affair' against Bi Maokang and Bi Maoliang is confirmed to have been fabricated and the result of false accusation. The principal malefactors have now been executed. You are hereby restored to your former posts, serving respectively as Director and Deputy Director of the Armory Bureau. Furthermore, Director Bi Maokang, loyal and steadfast in his duties, is promoted to Junior Preceptor, with a grant of five hundred taels from the privy purse. Deputy Director Bi Maoliang, courageous in speaking out, is additionally given the title of Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent, with a grant of three hundred taels from the privy purse.

It is hoped that the two of you will continue to fulfill your duties with loyalty, exert yourselves for the nation, and serve the imperial house. Thus decreed!"

"Long live His Majesty, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!!"