Chapter 130: Flintlock Gun

Hongwu 6th year, the third day of the first month.

In the Qianqing Palace, the charcoal fire burned brightly, dispelling the cold of the winter morning.

Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhu Biao and Zhu Yong gathered around the writing desk, where the set of Flintlock Gun blueprints was spread out.

They had been studying it for a full two days.

"These blueprints... are more startling to us than that World Map from back then," Zhu Yuanzhang's finger moved slowly over the weapon schematics, his voice trembling with barely restrained excitement.

Zhu Biao picked up the cartridge mold diagram and examined it carefully, saying, "Father, look at this cartridge mold—it can produce ten at a time, and this powder funnel can precisely control the gunpowder amount.

According to the markings, the powder variance per shot won't exceed half a qian."

"Half a qian... Biao, do you know what that means?" Zhu Yuanzhang said, taking a deep breath.

"Yes... it means musket troops can form dense formations, their volleys will have more consistent trajectories, and both range and power can increase dramatically.

Moreover, this flintlock mechanism doesn't need a match cord, so it can fire even in rain," Zhu Biao said gravely.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhu Yong, "Yong Er, you say this blueprint came from the White-bearded Old Man in a dream?"

"Hmm! The old man said this thing is called a Flintlock Gun, far superior to the current musket," Zhu Yong nodded earnestly.

"Not just superior... it literally changes Heaven and Earth," Zhu Yuanzhang murmured.

He stood up, paced within the hall, then stopped and said, "Biao, if this blueprint is realized, what will the Great Ming army look like?"

Zhu Biao also rose, his eyes flashing, and said, "Father, if every infantryman can be equipped with such a gun, cavalry charges will no longer be a threat.

Three-Volley Tactic, Five-Volley Tactic, even Ten-Volley Tactic—so long as the barrel stays hot and ammunition is ample, a continuous barrage can be formed. Even the bravest Mongol Iron Cavalry cannot break such a fire net."

"And this ammunition, standardized, can be mass‑produced, unlike now where each musketier loads powder by feel, over‑ or under‑charging at will."

Zhu Yuanzhang returned to the desk, picked up that mold diagram, and said.

Zhu Yong interjected, "Father, the old man also said the barrel must be made of Refined Iron, with a smooth interior, so the projectile can travel far."

"Refined Iron... the Ministry of Works reported last year that iron smelted with the blast furnace method has far fewer impurities; if the process is further refined..." Zhu Yuanzhang mused after a pause.

"Father, this cannot rely on the Ministry of Works alone," Zhu Biao suddenly said.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at him.

"The Flintlock Gun is too vital; if it leaks, the consequences would be unimaginable. Your servant suggests establishing a secret Gongfang in the Imperial City's Xiyuan, drawing the most reliable craftsmen, under direct supervision of the Imperial Father.

All participants must not leave, and their families will be provided for by the court," Zhu Biao said, lowering his voice.

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes flashed with approval, "Biao has thought it through, but that's still not enough. Yong Er, what do you think?"

Zhu Yong scratched his head and said, "I don't understand these things, but I think big brother is right; this thing is too powerful and must be hidden well."

"Then it's settled. Biao, draft a list, draw fifty top craftsmen from the Ministry of Works, Imperial Armory Bureau, and Directorate of Construction, and have Mao Xiang lead men to guard them over at Xiyuan.

By the way, Mao Xiang is now the Commissioner of the Brocade Guard, which we restructured from the Guard Command."

Zhu Yuanzhang gave his final approval.

Zhu Yong felt something stir in his heart.

The Brocade Guard—who would have thought this organization would emerge early.

"Your servant understands," he bowed.

"Yong Er, you contributed these blueprints; you must oversee the subsequent trial production. Though you're simple‑minded, your eye is sharp; craftsmen cannot fool you."

Zhu Yuanzhang turned his gaze to his second son again.

"Alright, I'll keep watch," Zhu Yong nodded.

Just then, a eunuch reported from outside, "His Majesty, Minister of Works Dan Anren, Imperial Armory Bureau Envoy Li Bin, and Deputy Director of Construction Chen Youzhi are waiting outside the hall for orders."

"Let them in," Zhu Yuanzhang said.

The three entered the hall and knelt in formal salute.

Dan Anren, over sixty, was a veteran of the Ministry of Works.

Li Bin, in his early fifties, had overseen the Imperial Armory Bureau for more than a decade.

Chen Youzhi was the youngest, only forty, but his craftsmanship was universally acknowledged as top‑tier.

"All rise and take a look at this," Zhu Yuanzhang gestured for them to take the blueprints.

They rose and walked to the desk.

At first they were somewhat puzzled, but after a few glances their expressions changed.

Dan Anren's hand trembled as he said, "This... this is..."

Li Bin immediately leaned onto the blueprint, his eyes almost glued to it, exclaiming, "Flintlock mechanism... spring... hammer... my heavens, this design..."

Chen Youzhi stared at the cartridge mold diagram, murmuring, "One mold, ten rounds, copper skin over lead... at this rate, we could produce several thousand per day..."

Zhu Yuanzhang watched their reactions, feeling even more confident.

"Can you make this thing?"

The three exchanged glances, then knelt together and said, "His Majesty, we will spare no effort!"

"Very well, but this matter is confidential. From today, the three of you will move to Xiyuan to reside; you may select the required craftsmen, but the number must be limited and elite.

All materials will be allocated directly from the internal store; in three months we must see the first sample gun," Zhu Yuanzhang nodded.

"Three months, Your Majesty, these blueprints are exquisite, many components are unprecedented, I'm afraid..." Dan Anren said hesitantly.

"Minister Dan, the court will give full support—people where needed, money where needed. Three months is the bottom line; although the Northern Yuan has been crushed, the Mongol tribes are not yet pacified, and Oirat and Tatar still linger in Mobei.

Great Ming needs new weapons," Zhu Biao said gently.

Dan Anren straightened, "I understand, three months, we will produce a sample gun!"

"Go then, move there today," Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand.

The three took their leave.

Only the three father and sons remained in the hall.

Zhu Biao picked up the blueprints again and suddenly said, "Father, the diagram contributed by my second brother may change the entire conduct of war."

"It's not just about war, Biao Er, tell me, if this gun can truly be mass‑produced, will we still need to keep so many cavalry?" Zhu Yuanzhang said, his gaze far‑seeing.

Zhu Biao thought for a moment and said, "Cavalry still has its uses—long‑range raids, pursuit of a broken enemy, cannot be done without cavalry—but in a frontal decisive battle, infantry squares equipped with this kind of fire‑gun can indeed become the main force on the battlefield."

"Then we'll change it; once the gun is made, we'll first test it at the capital camp. If it truly matches the Blueprint, we'll gradually re‑equip." Zhu Yuanzhang declared resolutely.

He looked at Zhu Yong and said, "Yong Er, the thirty thousand men of your Longxiang Army will be the first units to re‑equip in the future."

"Good!" Zhu Yong's eyes lit up.

"But this cannot be rushed; the new gun, new tactics, new formations all require gradual exploration. Biao Er, study more military texts, especially the Former Song records on firearm usage—though they don't match this, they still offer some reference." Zhu Yuanzhang said calmly again.

"Your servant obeys," Zhu Biao replied.

On the fifth day of the first lunar month, the secret workshop in Xiyuan officially began work.

Fifty artisans were selected from over three thousand, each a leader in the trade.

Their families were placed in residences near the Imperial City, guarded covertly by the Brocade Guard, who also kept watch.

The workshop was divided into three sections.

The firearms section, the ammunition section, and the mold section.

The firearms section was responsible for producing the gun barrels and flintlock mechanisms, led by Chen Youzhi.

The ammunition section handled the development of standardized ammo, headed by Li Bin.

The mold section manufactured production tools, with Dan Anren personally serving as its leader.

Zhu Yong visited the workshop each day for a round.

Though he didn't understand the specific techniques, he was strong and his eyes were precise.

The barrel must be straight; he lifted an iron pipe to the light and could spot any slight bend.

The parts must fit tightly; once he handled them, he could tell where the problem lay.

At first the artisans thought this prince was merely supervising, but later realized he truly understood—though he couldn't articulate why, he always pinpointed the crucial points.

"Your Highness, look at this hammer spring; the Blueprint calls for steel‑wire winding, but we've tried several steels and none are tough enough," an elderly artisan said, handing the broken spring to Zhu Yong.

Zhu Yong took the spring, squeezed it, then pulled and said, "It's too brittle; we need a softer steel."

"But softer means it lacks strength…"

Zhu Yong thought and said, "Then use two layers—a soft one and a hard one—rolled together."

The old artisan was stunned, then his eyes brightened: "Exactly! Layered winding! Your Highness is brilliant!"

In truth, Zhu Yong knew nothing of layered winding; he merely recalled a vague memory from a past life that springs were made that way. Yet the artisans thought he concealed deep knowledge.

Similar incidents occurred many times.

The ammunition section's trial copper shells always had porosity leaks.

Zhu Yong saw them casting with mud molds and casually asked, "Why not use iron molds?"

The artisans' eyes opened; iron molds conduct heat quickly, allowing the molten copper to cool evenly, indeed reducing porosity.

The mold section's press molds kept cracking the steel.

Watching their quenching process, Zhu Yong said naively, "If we temper after quenching, won't it stop being brittle?"

In fact, this is basic metallurgical heat‑treatment knowledge, but craftsmen of this era relied on inherited experience, lacking systematic theory.

Zhu Yong's remark led the mold section to discover a combined quenching‑tempering process, solving the steel's cracking issue.

Over time, the artisans came to revere this simple‑minded prince with utmost admiration.

Dan Anren privately told Li Bin, "Prince Wu may seem simple‑minded, but he is truly a wise fool; each off‑hand remark untangles our days‑long confusions."

Li Bin wholeheartedly agreed, "If not for the prince's guidance, this flintlock gun would have taken another two months."

They didn't know that Zhu Yong truly didn't understand; he only possessed fragments of common sense from a past life, which in this era became the insightful guidance.