Chapter 140: Divine Machine Camp

Zhu Yong took the gun and loaded ammunition.

He took out a paper‑cased bullet, bit open its tail with his teeth, poured the gunpowder into the powder pan, then packed the remaining powder and lead ball into the barrel and tamped them down with a copper rod.

He raised the gun and aimed at the Mubiao a hundred meters away.

He pulled the trigger.

"Bang!"

The gunshot rang crisp, leaving a hole in the Mubiao.

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes brightened as he asked, "How long does loading take?"

"If you're skilled, fifteen breaths," Zhu Yong replied.

The Blueprint Zhu Yong had just taken out required about twenty breaths to load, but now it had improved by five breaths.

Indeed, their ancestors were clever; without a goal or leadership, how could they have been surpassed by the West?

The Training Ground fell silent.

Xu Da inhaled deeply and said, "His Majesty, if this gun can be mass‑produced and equipped to the whole army, Great Ming's military strength will dominate the world."

Chang Yuchun grew even more excited, "This gun is superb! It's more than ten times stronger than a matchlock, and far better than the current Flintlock Gun. Had we had this gun when fighting Chen Youliang and Zhang Shicheng, we could have saved countless brothers!"

Zhu Yuanzhang pondered briefly, looked at Zhu Yong and said, "If it weren't for the Blueprint you, Yong Er, gave at the start, we wouldn't have this improved gun, so all this is thanks to you, Yong Er..."

"Of course, the Ministry of Works also contributed greatly; rewards, great rewards..."

Zhu Yong nodded and said, "Thank you, Father..."

"Thank you, His Majesty, for the bestowal..."

"Ministry of Works, first produce a thousand units as a trial."

Zhu Yuanzhang paused, then continued, "No, make three thousand, that's just right. Yong Er is to attack Wa Country; with this gun, we feel more at ease."

Zhu Biao replied, "Father, I, your son, suggest first equipping the Capital Garrison and frontier elite: five thousand for the Garrison, two thousand for each of the nine borders, a total of twenty‑three thousand."

While producing guns, we must also train soldiers to use them; building combat power takes time.

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, "Approved, Biao Er, you oversee this; Ministry of Works makes the guns, Ministry of War trains, Ministry of Revenue allocates silver, and of course we cannot omit Yong Er's Longxiang Army."

"Understood."

Leaving the Training Ground, Zhu Biao and Zhu Yong walked side by side.

They walked while chatting.

The two brothers reached the East Palace gate, where Chang Wan emerged holding Zhu Xiongying.

Zhu Xiongying was just over a year old, could walk and call his parents; when he saw Zhu Yong, he reached out to be lifted.

"Second Uncle... hold me..."

Zhu Yong took the little nephew, lifted him high, making Zhu Xiongying giggle.

Chang Wan watched, her eyes full of tenderness, and said to Zhu Biao, "Second brother is back this time; shouldn't he stay at home longer?"

Zhu Biao sighed, "He probably won't stay long; Father still wants him to train the navy. In three months we must produce Five Thousand Musketeers, then attack Wa Country. He's got a lot to do."

Chang Wan said with concern, "Second brother is only seventeen; that's too heavy a burden."

"The capable bear more work! Besides, with the second brother here, Great Ming can be stable."

Zhu Biao smiled.

That was true.

Since Zhu Yong reaffirmed his lineage, Great Ming's external wars have been virtually unbeatable.

Northern Yuan is gone, Nüzhen pacified, Goryeo subdued, Western Regions settled, and now the sea bandits are also eradicated.

Zhu Yong's blade, the sharpest in Great Ming, truly makes petty villains across the lands dare not act rashly.

After ten days in Yingtian Prefecture, on May 21, Zhu Yong set out for the Capital Garrison.

The Capital Garrison lies twenty li outside Yingtian Prefecture, nestled by mountains and water, covering a vast area.

Tang He had long received the decree and was waiting at the camp gate to receive him.

"Junior General Tang He, may I have an audience with Prince Wu," Tang He, who was sent by Zhu Biao to assist Zhu Yong in training troops.

"Uncle Tang, no need for formalities; Father sent me to train troops. I don't understand, so I need your guidance," Zhu Yong said as he dismounted and helped him up.

Tang He smiled, "Your Highness is modest. I've long heard of your abilities; this training, I will fully cooperate."

The two entered the Military Camp.

Inside the camp, Five Thousand Elite Soldiers had already gathered, all veteran troops selected from various garrisons, robust and quick‑reacting.

Chang Mao was also present, clad in brand‑new armor; seeing Zhu Yong arrive, he performed a proper salute, "May I have an audience with Prince Wu."

Prince Wu Zhu Yong was Chang Mao's idol; ever since training martial arts with Zhu Yong and later training in the Longxiang Army, he still wishes to follow Zhu Yong.

This time, too, he begged his own father to come.

Zhu Yong patted his shoulder, "Don't be formal with me."

Chang Mao puffed his chest, "Yes! His Majesty..."

"Good!"

Zhu Yong stepped onto the Pointing Platform, looking at the five thousand soldiers below.

"Everyone, I'm Zhu Yong, your new instructor. Starting today, I'll teach you to use the New-style Firearm. This gun is called the Flintlock Gun; it's faster than a matchlock and deadlier than a bow."

"In three months, you will become Great Ming's premier fire‑gun elite. Understood?" Zhu Yong's resonant voice addressed the navy below.

"Understood!" five thousand shouted in unison.

"Good, now training begins!"

Training is divided into three steps.

First step: become familiar with the Flintlock Gun's structure and learn loading.

Second step: aim and fire, practicing accuracy.

Step three, formation coordination, Three-Volley Tactic.

Zhu Yong, though simple and straightforward, teaches things very seriously.

He personally demonstrated the loading motions over and over, until every soldier learned.

Tang He watched from the side, silently nodding.

Prince Wu, though looking simple, is meticulous in his actions.

With such an instructor, this unit cannot fail, and the Longxiang Army was also trained by the Prince.

Chang Mao learned the fastest; in less than three days he mastered the use of the flintlock gun and could point out other soldiers' mistakes.

Zhu Yong watched and said to Tang He, "That kid Chang Mao is material."

Tang He laughed, "General Chang's son is naturally fine, just a bit proud, needs some tempering."

"Let me temper him." Zhu Yong said with a simple smile.

He had already been tempered for a while before; now he needs more polishing, and will become a great general later.

Training went on for a month, and the soldiers basically mastered the use of the flintlock gun.

At this time, the Ministry of Works delivered the first batch of finished guns, five hundred in total.

Zhu Yong let the soldiers fire live rounds.

On the Training Ground, gunfire rose and fell.

The wooden target a Hundred Steps away was riddled with holes.

Tang He looked at the target and sighed, "This power… if five thousand fired together, any cavalry charge would be a death sentence."

"After training is complete, we'll take them to Wa Country to really test the guns…"

"The Prince will attack Wa Country…"

"Hmm…"

Training continued.

In June, the second batch of one thousand guns arrived.

In July, the third batch of one thousand five hundred guns arrived.

By early August, all five thousand flintlock guns were in place.

Five Thousand Musketeers also completed training.

Loading speed, from an initially clumsy twenty breaths, shortened to fifteen breaths.

Shooting accuracy, seven or eight hits out of ten within a Hundred Steps.

Formation coordination, Three-Volley Tactic wheel firing, continuous and unending.

On the tenth day of early August, Zhu Yuanzhang personally came to review.

On the Training Ground, Five Thousand Musketeers formed ten square formations.

Zhu Yong gave a single command, "First squad, prepare… fire!"

"Bang bang bang…"

Gunfire was orderly, and smoke filled the air.

The wooden dummy target a Hundred Steps away was instantly turned into a sieve.

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded repeatedly, "Good! Good! Biao, what do you think of this power?"

Zhu Biao, standing nearby, smiled, "Father, with this troop, the nine borders can be kept peaceful for thirty years."

"Thirty years is not enough; we aim for a hundred years of peace, a thousand‑year foundation," Zhu Yuanzhang said, his gaze far‑seeing.

He looked at Zhu Yong and said, "Yong Er, this unit shall be called Shenji Camp from now on, and you will be its commander."

"Shenji Camp… Father, the name is good." Zhu Yong repeated the name, then glanced at Zhu Di, who was hiding behind.

The Fifth Prince's Shenji Camp was also seized.

"Of course it's good, Shenji's brilliant calculations, Huogi first, with this camp Great Ming can finally rest easy." Zhu Yuanzhang smiled.

After the review, Zhu Yuanzhang returned to the palace.

Zhu Yong stayed in the camp, continuing the training.