Chapter 212: Diligent in Small Things, Civilized and Martial

The short interlude caused the accompanying crowd to fall into deep thought.

On one hand, they felt that they should indeed put pressure on the Prince Shunyi King who was restless, and on the other hand, they were afraid that the Tatars would be annoyed and cause trouble.

Unfortunately, the Emperor directly asked the Secretariat Drafter to return to the palace to draft the decree, not giving the crowd room to discuss.

After a lunch, whether worried or whispering, they were all discussing whether Altan Khan would accept the decree to enter the capital, if so, how to treat him, if not, what to do, etc.

Until the afternoon, the Emperor led the crowd to the Grand Drill Ground to test new firearms, and the crowd focused their attention on what was in front of them.

"Your Majesty, these firearms have not been live-fired, you can rest assured to play with them."

Inside the Grand Drill Ground, fifty steps away were targets made of wooden boards and straw men.

And the Emperor and a group of civil and military officials were surrounding a batch of firearms, pointing and gesturing.

The eunuchs of the Bureau of Military Weapons and the craftsmen accompanied the Emperor and the group of court officials carefully, occasionally explaining one or two things to the Emperor and the group of court officials.

Zhu Yijun picked up a musket and turned it over and over with great interest: "Master Craftsman Qian, explain to me and the ministers one by one."

It wasn't that Zhu was hiding his clumsiness, but regarding the technical problems of firearms, except for the most basic common sense, he really didn't understand the rest.

Politics and philosophy were the professional counterparts of his previous life, and those who did this line of work all understood a little. As for firearms, I'm afraid only a resume like "winning half a son" would be interested.

The eunuch of the Bureau of Military Weapons heard this, hurriedly gave up his position, and revealed Master Craftsman Qian.

The latter obviously wasn't used to this occasion, stammering for a long time: "What Your Majesty is holding is a fire gun..."

Zhu Yijun interrupted helplessly: "I know it's a fire gun, just say what's new."

He still had common sense. Hand guns, according to the ignition method, now had two types.

The first is a fire gun, with only a bare gun barrel. One person holds the gun to aim, and one person adds ammunition to it. Because of the ignition method, it relies on throwing red-hot iron wires and charcoal into the fire door, also known as a fire-door gun. It is neither convenient nor accurate. Among hand-held firearms, it is already a backward variety.

There is another type, the musket, introduced from Japan during the Jiajing reign. On the basis of the fire-door gun, it adds a sight, a front sight, a gun stock, and a gun machine. It can be held by one person and has a front sight to aim. Whether it is practicality or accuracy, it has been greatly improved. Even the ignition method has changed from the primitive way of opening the fire door and throwing charcoal to lighting a fuse.

Of course, due to the cost, the border army still mostly uses fire guns, and only the Imperial Guard and Capital Battalion, which are used by the Emperor, can be equipped with advanced firearms like muskets on a large scale.

Seeing Master Craftsman Qian interrupted by the Emperor, the Seal-Holding Eunuch of the Bureau of Military Weapons, Wei Zhongde, hurriedly stepped forward to save the scene.

The latter took over the topic: "Your Majesty! The Bureau of Military Weapons, following Your Majesty's inspiration, has improved the technique of the spiral bore in these few years, and matched the projectile with it, making the projectile spiral out of the muzzle."

"Whether it is range or precision,

He didn't understand the technology, but he had done his homework before coming, so reporting a little bit wasn't a problem.

Zhu Yijun, upon hearing this, couldn't help but show a look of surprise, his voice subconsciously rising a few notches: "You made it!?"

The idea of spiral rifling was naturally his, of course, limited to a vague general direction; as for how to achieve the effect he spoke of, the craftsmen had to rack their brains.

However, he didn't expect that in just over five years, there would actually be results.

Everyone, seeing the Emperor's joy, leaned their eyes close to the gun barrel, curiously examining it, and sure enough, they saw spiral grooves in the bore.

"Allow this servant to demonstrate for Your Majesty."

After speaking, Wei Zhongde ordered people to bring gunpowder, load the ammunition, and prepare to demonstrate.

Zhu Yijun, seeing the eunuchs and craftsmen in pairs, one holding the gun barrel and one preparing ammunition, couldn't help but frown and ask: "Since you modified the gun barrel technique, it should be universal, so why not use it on bird guns, but insist on using it on fire guns?"

Wei Zhongde didn't understand this very well, so he hurriedly winked at Master Craftsman Qian.

The latter understood and explained first: "May Your Majesty know, in order to make the projectile rotate along the gun barrel, the projectile can only be thicker than the gun barrel."

"When loading, it takes a long time to hammer it in; the fire gun's shape is simpler than the bird gun, loading is simple, and it is more suitable for using rifling."

As soon as the words fell, everyone saw the little eunuch responsible for the demonstration huffing and puffing as he used a hammer to knock and load the projectile.

Jia Sanjin, a Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of War, curled his lips: "On the battlefield, where would there be so much time for soldiers to load projectiles?"

Let alone cavalry charges; with this much time, the old, weak, sick, and disabled could kill their way to the front.

Qi Jiguang's face also showed a look of regret.

Master Craftsman Qian scratched his arm uncomfortably and smiled awkwardly: "Still thinking of a way, still thinking of a way."

At this time, the little eunuchs testing the guns finally finished loading.

Although everyone had already shaken their heads in their hearts, they still focused their attention.

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

After a few gunshots, the smoke cleared.

"Six hits out of ten!"

Fifty paces away, the little eunuch finished counting the targets in a flurry and shouted at the top of his lungs.

This hit rate was already very high.

But the civil and military officials all looked uninterested.

Wang Chonggu put down the fire gun and shook his head: "The projectile being thicker than the gun barrel definitely won't work; the speed has dropped by nearly half compared to before, and I fear it would be difficult to even penetrate armor."

Old veterans understood how much the speed had dropped just by the whistling sound of the projectile.

When the speed slows down, the power naturally weakens.

In short, it might be helpful for accuracy, but it's not practical.

Master Craftsman Qian's expression was inevitably a bit disappointed.

At this time, Zhu Yijun suddenly spoke: "One thing is one thing; even if there are some limitations, it doesn't hurt to use it as a technical reserve."

"Moreover, since you've come this far, think of a way for the projectile; it's not impossible to refine the essence."

After speaking, he looked at Wei Zhongde and Master Craftsman Qian: "As usual, I will pay you the reward for the rifling; as for the difficulties of slow loading and muzzle velocity, start a new project."

Wei Zhongde and Master Craftsman Qian showed joy and hurriedly thanked him profusely.

Zhu Yijun naturally wouldn't use the excuse of it being impractical to bully old craftsmen.

In the past few years at the Bureau of Military Armaments, he had spent hundreds of thousands of taels buying up family techniques from these craftsmen to integrate them, and giving out rewards for results.

What's more, technological progress is something that is gradually explored; how can it be achieved in one step?

People like Wang Chonggu are purely used to imitating advanced firearms over the years, which is why they hope for a one-step solution.

Seeing the Emperor being generous and using palace money to pay rewards, the court officials naturally had nothing to say.

Qi Jiguang, seeing that the fire gun matter was finished, immediately seized the opportunity and pushed the gun in his hand forward: "Is this the flintlock gun Your Majesty spoke of?"

Everyone turned their heads to look.

They saw Qi Jiguang holding a firearm that was eighty percent similar to a bird gun.

There was a trigger on the stock, the trigger and the hammer formed a small mechanism, and a piece of flint was clamped in the hammer's jaws; opening the loading area revealed the frizzen.

Although they knew there was no gunpowder in the gun, Jia Sanjin still coughed lightly: "Commander Qi, pay attention to the discipline of the Beijing Garrison; keep the muzzle away from people."

Qi Jiguang followed his advice and handed the flintlock gun to Supervising Secretary Jia.

Jia Sanjin was just about to take it when Zhu Yijun walked between the two and reached out to take the flintlock gun: "It is indeed a flintlock gun."

"Every time the trigger is pulled on this gun, the flint on the hammer strikes the frizzen, producing sparks that ignite the gunpowder and fire the projectile."

"Unlike bird guns that use a matchlock to ignite, flintlock guns don't need to carry fire stones for ignition; they are convenient to use, have shorter loading times, and fire faster."

After speaking, he pulled the trigger a few times, and sparks flew everywhere.

After Jia Sanjin was startled, Zhu Yijun smiled and handed the flintlock gun over.

Wang Chonggu also became interested and reached out to snatch it from Jia Sanjin's hand.

Matchlock ignition has too many shortcomings: it fears water and wind, is picky about the weather, the match cords vary in length, the ignition time is inconsistent, it tests the proficiency of the soldiers, and it often misfires or produces duds.

If one could use flint for instant ignition, it would indeed be much more practical.

Wang Chonggu examined it over and over, and pulled the trigger repeatedly toward the ground.

After a long test, Wang Chonggu frowned: "It seems it doesn't ignite every time?"

Zhu Yijun hummed and explained: "The sparks from the flint are unstable; sometimes you even have to pull the trigger three or four times to fire."

"And it also fears dampness, even more so than the match cord."

Wang Chonggu nodded.

An expected problem.

He even thought of more flaws in the blink of an eye.

This simple firing method is probably extremely prone to accidental discharge; holding it in your hand, you don't know when the trigger might be pulled.

Training is also a problem; the operation is simple, but after adding the mechanism, it is harder for soldiers to understand.

Of course, these are small problems that can be overcome, at least it is much more advanced than the match cord.

Wang Chonggu stretched his finger into the gun and asked casually: "The cost shouldn't be low, right?"

Everyone looked at the eunuch from the Bureau of Military Armaments.

Wei Zhongde paused, glanced at the Emperor, and then replied cautiously: "Zhang Gelao Wang, flintlock guns are easier to use than bird guns, so the cost is naturally more expensive."

He paused: "About four taels of silver each."

As soon as the words fell, Wang Chonggu frowned.

Four taels, a bit too expensive.

Ordinary fire guns, such as fast guns and target-clamping guns, are between seven mace and one tael and nine candareens.

Bird guns are slightly more expensive, costing two taels and one candareen each, and even then, it is already very difficult for border troops to use them.

With this flintlock gun doubling in cost to four taels each, it would probably be even harder for border troops to equip them on a large scale.

"Why is it so much more expensive?" Wang Chonggu asked.

Master Craftsman Qian was just about to explain, but Wei Zhongde pulled him and snatched the words: "May Zhang Gelao Wang know, it is mainly expensive in labor hours."

"Zhang Gelao Wang, don't look at the exquisite flintlock mechanism; in reality, it's not worth much. Materials like iron, cleaning rods, screws, charcoal, and wooden stocks only cost nine mace and seven candareens per gun."

"But filing the gun barrel, engraving, drilling, and making hinges takes labor and time, costing three taels and one mace and one candareen; not a single cent was overcharged."

Wang Chonggu, hearing this, couldn't help but click his teeth.

He hesitated for a moment and said softly: "How about letting the Ministry of War try a batch first?"

New processes are always most expensive when they first come out; once they are scaled up and the craftsmen are skilled, the labor cost naturally comes down—this is the mature result of years of balancing profit-sharing with craftsmen and controlling costs.

Of course, the Bureau of Military Armaments and the Ministry of War eat from different pots; orders are placed as needed, and money is paid as needed.

Even if the Ministry of Works' Armory wants them, they have to use funds from the Treasury to buy the technology from the inner court.

Qi Jiguang nodded in agreement: "Your Majesty, if we can equip a batch for the New Year's military parade, it would be just right to boost the momentum."

Previously, match cord ignition was inconvenient; if there was only the simple action of pulling the trigger, then galloping on horseback and firing at the sky, wouldn't this momentum be just right for a parade? Zhu Yijun naturally followed the advice: "I will send this to the Ministry of War tomorrow and have a batch made first."

As for the New Year's parade, naturally, there will be as many as there are; anyway, a hundred or so will be enough to boost the momentum.

After speaking, Zhu Yijun couldn't help but touch his nose: "Money flows like water."

It is foreseeable that the national defense budget for these few years will be rising steadily.

I don't know when I will be able to dump obsolete equipment to recoup some costs.

"In addition to the improvements to the handguns, the Bureau of Military Armaments has also made some additions and subtractions to the cannons; please move, Your Majesty and gentlemen."

Wei Zhongde gestured and prepared to lead the way.

Wang Chonggu and Qi Jiguang looked at each other, a trace of surprise flashing in their eyes: "Are there new shapes for cannons too?"

Handguns are just like that, equivalent to crossbow bolts.

Cannons are different; a volley of cannonballs, if fired well, can turn the tide of battle.

Reading the original text!

For such a heavy weapon of the state, even a little progress is a big deal for the war effort.

Wei Zhongde, hearing this, couldn't help but smile bitterly: "How many military craftsmen are there in the Bureau of Military Armaments? How can it change with each passing day to this extent?"

"It's just some minor gains in auxiliary equipment."

"I heard that the Red-Haired Barbarians have made innovations in cannons in recent years, and I wanted to buy a batch to imitate, but in the end, there is little contact with them, and the merchants I asked were all vague."

Wang Chonggu, Qi Jiguang, and others, hearing this, couldn't help but think it was a pity.

While they were talking, Wei Zhongde had already led the Emperor and the civil and military officials to a large breech-loading cannon.

He called for people to take out a few more things.

The officials stood still and watched.

"In order to improve the accuracy of cannons, I have racked my brains over the past few years, but there has been no progress."

"Until the year before last, when Scholar Liu was present, he tried to introduce geometry into the calculation of cannonball trajectories."

"Not to mention Scholar Liu's achievements, the Bureau of Military Armaments took advantage of the situation to produce gun gauges, gun squares, and gun rulers to assist in cannon firing."

After speaking, he had people demonstrate the application of these items.

After a lot of tossing and turning, his mouth didn't stop either.

Talking about measuring the angle of the muzzle, firing range, parabolic trajectories, ammunition ratios, and so on.

It left the civil and military officials stunned.

Boom!

Boom!

Military officers kept stepping forward, trying to fire cannons with auxiliary tools, blowing the drill ground into a mess.

Zhu Yijun watched coldly, feeling quite emotional in his heart.

This matter was really not led by him; it was nothing more than knowing how to appoint people and heavy rewards.

The court itself has ballistics; various military books have very practical guidance on the use of cannons, for example, the vertical firing method is only used for Feibiao guns, which can be set at 11 degrees (82.5°) or 12 degrees (90°) for siege warfare; the inverted firing method is only suitable for defensive guns, inverted by 1 degree (7.5°) to 4 degrees (30°) to attack enemies under the city; the flat firing method is best used in battle formations, hitting the target every time.

There are many such things, but they are all singular and not systematic.

It wasn't until the genius Liu Dunkai appeared that someone tried to systematically study geometry, and by the way, unified these things into laws, creating corresponding tools—the by-products that can be used for military purposes were naturally sold by Xu Jie to the academy for a good price.

In any case, compared to clever mechanisms, this kind of technical spillover after solidifying basic disciplines is something more worth being gratified about.

Build a good foundation, what kind of Red-Haired Cannons won't we have?

On the contrary, the corrupt Confucian idea of "buying is better than making" should be dismissed from office as soon as one is seen!

A fire gun test at the Bureau of Military Armaments lasted for a whole afternoon.

Of course, besides usable things, there was no lack of some wasteful attempts.

For example, Tao Chengdong's semi-finished project "sitting on a rocket to the sky" was improved by the Bureau of Military Armaments with kites—it blew up two rabbits on the spot, burned through the kite, and killed one, with only two landing safely.

It was laughable.

It is said that there were also craftsmen studying gunpowder ratios, but the results were minimal and were not brought up.

After a busy afternoon, until evening, the Emperor and the accompanying civil and military officials returned home.

Of course, Zhu Yijun naturally still had to follow Qi Jiguang back to the military camp.

The two ruler and subject could be said to be inseparable during this period.

Saying they slept side by side is a bit exaggerated, but they talked all night by candlelight every day without any discount.

At midnight this day, the main camp was still as bright as day.

From time to time, sounds of "drilling," "selection," "Qi Family Army," "lectures at the Staff Academy," etc., could be heard.

It wasn't until the imperial officials were so anxious that they ignored etiquette and broke into the main camp, using the Emperor's health as an excuse, that they were forcibly separated.

……

The third day of the twelfth lunar month.

Today is the sixth day the Emperor has stayed in the military camp, which seems longer than the month the Emperor spent inspecting Shuntian Prefecture—official business and not returning home at night are always different.

The Forbidden City seems to have lost its backbone.

There was much discussion in the Wenhua Hall, and everyone hoped that Shen Shixing would come forward to persuade the Emperor to return to the palace to rest.

However, although the Emperor didn't hold court, matters big and small in the court still proceeded very smoothly.

Whether it was the loose ends of Liu Shiyan

Liu Shiyan, Count of Cheng Yi and Right Commander of the Rear Military Commission, after repeated impeachments and three times in the imperial prison, slandered the imperial ancestor, was vicious and treacherous, falsely claimed celestial anomalies, forged imperial edicts to control the army, made weapons without authorization, constantly claimed to be loyal to the king, and despite having a certificate exempting him from two deaths, his crimes were far more than two, let alone ten deaths that could not be redeemed; thus, his three clans were exterminated to rectify the public view.

Accomplices such as Jiao Mengzhao, brother of the Count of Dongning, and Liu Maoxun, brother of the Marquis of Anyuan, were punished by dismemberment.

Shi Maohua, former Minister of War, was wanted for treason and collusion with the enemy.

Luo Fengxiang, former Vice Minister of War, died of illness in prison, etc...

Or the reorganization of the Five Military Commissions.

Yin Zhengmao, Right Vice Censor-in-Chief and Grand Coordinator of Liangguang, having served in various fiefs and followed his duties, slaughtered the rebels and pacified the region, was promoted to Minister of War.

Yin Zhengmao, Minister of War, and Chen Jingbang, Vice Minister of War, along with various directors and secretaries, memorialized on matters of the Ministry of War, requesting the removal of powers regarding military systems, punitive expeditions, dispatching troops, and coordination.

Even the matter of issuing an edict for the Prince Shunyi King and Lady Zhongshun to enter the capital for pilgrimage was only debated for a quarter of an hour in the Wenhua Hall before quickly passing the court deliberation.

But even so, the Emperor still refused to return to the palace today.

"Qi Jiguang's southern troops used the excuse that they didn't recognize me, and wouldn't even let me into the military camp." The Secretariat Drafter was panting in the middle of winter, white smoke rising from his forehead.

He looked exactly like someone who had been shut out.

Chen Wude was furious: "Preposterous! I will go myself!"

After speaking, he was about to walk out of the Wenhua Hall.

Shen Shixing gasped and hurriedly grabbed Chen Wude.

"Lord Chen, don't be impatient; with the New Year approaching, it is better to let the two palaces invite the Emperor back to the palace, which is timely, and I believe the Emperor will be easier to persuade."

Chen Wude was angry, but after thinking about it, it was indeed the truth, so he barely nodded.

The Secretariat Drafter hadn't even caught his breath before he was sent by these ministers to pass the message to the two palaces; helplessly, he had to nod to the imperial officials and go out of the Wenhua Hall straight to the West Garden.

Just as he stepped out the door.

The Secretariat Drafter actually returned to the Wenhua Hall again.

The court officials looked at him in confusion.

The Secretariat Drafter hurriedly explained: "As soon as I went out, I saw Eunuch Sun coming out of the West Garden, saying he was ordered by the two palaces to invite the Emperor back to the palace."

Chen Wude's complexion looked better; it was fortunate that the two palaces were still there.

The Secretariat Drafter put his hands on his hips, took a big breath, and looked at Wang Zongyi: "Great Minister of Rites, the two palaces also said to invite the Ancestral Temple official to the West Garden, and they want to see him now."

Wang Zongyi, hearing this, was stunned.

He frowned: "What happened?"

The Secretariat Drafter finally caught his breath: "Good news, great news."

……

The Secretariat Drafter had no status, so Zhu Yijun sent him away without having to show his face.

But since the eunuch came on the orders of the two palaces, he couldn't reject his mother's face, so he had to let Sun Long in.

As soon as Sun Long walked into the drill ground, he saw a sea of black.

The infantrymen were whispering to each other, craning their necks in anticipation.

Several large boxes had their lids lifted, revealing white, shimmering silver, sitting quietly on the general's platform.

The Military Administration Hall, the Ministry of War, and the Censorate were distributing rewards to the military officers one by one.

Oh, it seems they said the Emperor was personally distributing pay today.

Sun Long thought to himself and looked up at the general's platform.

He saw the Emperor on the high platform had also taken off his military uniform and changed back into his imperial robes.

The Emperor personally took the field from time to time, skillfully distributing silver, shaking hands, patting shoulders, and encouraging them in one go.

"You all remember my appearance well! The money I distributed today, whoever dares to deduct it, come and tell me!"

Even the most rogue soldier would find it hard to ignore the gap brought by status and position.

They were all moved to tears, shouting words of loyalty to the Emperor.

Seeing this scene, even Sun Long, as a close minister of the Emperor, couldn't help but feel awe in his heart.

Anyone with a little common sense knows what attitude soldiers have toward the superiors who distribute pay.

The Emperor personally distributing pay... even Emperor Wuzong didn't do this.

It is truly awe-inspiring to behold!

Sun Long took a deep breath, collected his thoughts, and hurriedly stepped up to the general's platform.

"Wait two more days; after I finish inspecting the military camp's treasury, I will return to the palace immediately."

Before the eunuch could speak, Zhu Yijun took the initiative, bargaining with the two palaces from a distance.

The personal guards were about to step forward to see him off.

Sun Long hurriedly pushed aside the irrelevant people and leaned over under the Emperor's suspicious gaze.

He stood beside the Emperor and said respectfully and excitedly: "Your Majesty, please return to the palace quickly; Imperial Consort Wu is pregnant with the dragon seed!"

Liu Shiyan let them do as they pleased, but his blood-red eyes stared fixedly at the Emperor, his whole body trembling incessantly.