Chapter 562 Starting from scratch
Xu Wei always felt that the so-called sea of stars was a metaphor used by Jiang Qingzhi, a statement to encourage everyone.
But when he saw the power of the flintlock, even though he was so proud, he was stunned for a long time.
"It's not that I don't trust you, but this matter is of great importance. If it gets out, both the Confucians and Altan will go crazy."
Jiang Qingzhi held a flintlock rifle, loaded it skillfully, and took aim.
Bang!
In the smoke, Jiang Qingzhi said confidently: "Head."
Sun Chonglou ran over and saw a hole at the head of the target, "Master, it's the head!"
"The flintlock rifle plus the Minié bullet will be enough to sweep the world in time." Jiang Qingzhi put down the flintlock rifle, and seeing Xu Wei still in a daze, he smiled and patted his shoulder, "Of course, we need a powerful navy that can control the seven seas. Let our enemies not even have a sail to the sea."
The navy blockaded and the army landed.
Rifled flintlock rifles were lined up for shooting, assisted by cavalry and other cold weapons... The cannons roared, creating bloody alleys, followed by cavalry charging and infantry charging...
"Who in this world can stop the progress of the Ming Dynasty's brave warriors?" Jiang Qingzhi thought of the Portuguese who were now entrenched in the waters off the Ming Dynasty, looking for opportunities.
Then, the Spanish, the English...
Even the Eagle Sauce on the other side of the ocean, Japan in the east...
Countries and nations are constantly rising in this magnificent new era, but this oldest nation, due to its own reasons, has confined itself to its own confinement and has become self-contained, allowing anyone to bully it.
Even Italy can ask for privileges!!!
Why did the Han people, who once dominated the world and proudly called themselves the Central Plains Dynasty, fall into a state of ruin?
——It’s thought!
Confucianism looms over the head of this central dynasty!
When did Confucianism dominate the Central Plains?
The rule of the Western Han Dynasty seemed to be based solely on Confucianism, but as one emperor said: The Han Dynasty had its own system, which was a mixture of hegemony and kingly ways.
Not to mention the early Tang Dynasty, whenever the old scholars talked about benevolent governance or that warmongers would eventually perish... the emperor would spit all over their faces.
Until the Early Song Dynasty, the Zhao family came to power in an illegitimate way and was particularly wary of military men. So they clamored to share the world with the literati and officials, and tried to win them over as helpers to check and balance the military men.
Thus, Confucianism truly stepped onto the big stage that dominated the Central Plains dynasty.
It was also from this time that this central country completely lost the vitality to keep pace with the times, as well as its enterprising spirit and vision towards the outside world.
Some people say that the Ming Dynasty can keep up with the times, but in Jiang Qingzhi's view, this is not keeping up with the times, but after being beaten, they feel pain and learn for a while. But after learning for a while, they will put aside these so-called tricks and return to internal fighting.
In two naval battles twenty years ago, the Portuguese used firearms to teach the Ming navy a profound lesson.
For the first time, powerful ships and cannons struck the Central Dynasty.
The Ming Dynasty quickly hit back: imitation, and then counterattack.
This was the first time that the Ming Dynasty had a chance to catch up with the Western world.
But when the Portuguese retreated, all the firearms, technology, and powerful ships and guns were forgotten by the king and his ministers.
They are busy fighting for power and reading so-called books of sages.
What is the West doing at this time?
They are constantly climbing the technology tree and exploring outward...
In this Central Dynasty, the most outstanding elites have been reading "Confucius said, learning and practicing it from time to time is not a pleasure" since childhood, looking for sentences all day long, wishing to break every word of the sage into countless parts and spend their whole lives studying each part...
But what good are these things that have been researched for the Ming Dynasty? What are the benefits?
They will answer that pursuing the path of saints is our lifelong goal.
When asked about governing a country, they said that as long as we govern the country according to the teachings of sages, it will surely be prosperous.
If you ask them how to make a country strong, they will say that if you keep good people close to you and stay away from bad people, you will naturally become strong...
"This is a fucking zombie!"
Jiang Qingyi punched the wooden pillar.
He even thought that using Buddhism to govern the country was better than Confucianism. At least Buddhism had more rules and regulations, which could superficially restrain those meat eaters.
"Zombie?" Li Tian bit off the thread with his teeth, picked up the clothes and shook them a few times, "Get up."
Jiang Qingzhi stood up.
"Hand out."
"Stand up straight!"
Jiang Qingzhi felt like a zombie.
"It fits me well." Li Tian was very happy. "I can make two new clothes for my husband during the New Year."
Mr. Jiang, who was about to explode again, couldn't help but feel moved when he saw his wife smiling with her eyes curved. Then...all his passion was just gone.
When he went out again, he couldn't help but touch his lower back and said, "I'd better use this kidney sparingly."
Jiang Qingzhi called Feng Yuan and went to the Armory.
The Arms Bureau was still bustling with activity. When the seal-holding eunuch Chen Shi saw Jiang Qing, he smiled so hard that his eyes could not be seen. "Chang Wei Bo is a rare guest. We just happened to have some good tea. How about we go and have a cup first?"
Jiang Qingzhi said, "I have something important to discuss. Let's cash it in!" Chen Shi smiled even happier. "No problem. I'll give Chang Wei Bo two taels of tea later. Don't blame me for being stingy. I only got half a pound of tea in total. I drank some of it, so there's not much left."
"Okay, I'll make some bacon for you to try later."
"The bacon of the Long Wei family is famous in the capital. I don't know how many people in the palace will envy me for having this good fortune."
After the greetings, Jiang Qingzhi got down to business. "Regarding the matter of the musket, has the palace given any instructions?"
Chen Shi smiled and said, "Someone came to the palace yesterday and said that His Majesty ordered us to do whatever Chang Wei Bo said." He looked at Jiang Qingzhi with envy, "This is the first time that the Armory Bureau has heard such an order."
"Then I won't be polite." Jiang Qingzhi pointed at Feng Yuan. "Select the best craftsmen, dozens to hundreds of them, and let Old Feng guide them in making muskets. This matter is urgent..."
"Lan Zhen?" Chen Shi seemed to know a lot about that matter. He sneered and said, "Don't worry, Long Wei Bo. If those bastards want to embarrass us, we can fight them side by side."
"Okay!" Jiang Qingzhi patted Chen Shi's shoulder, "Let's have a drink together later."
Chen Shi was startled. Jiang Qingzhi had already entered the workshop.
"Eunuch Chen, are we too enthusiastic?" said the trusted eunuch beside him, "The Mohists are good at mechanics, which is much better than our military department. If they gain the upper hand, we will bow down to them!"
"You know nothing!" Chen Shi said, "You have been with me for many years, but have you ever heard His Majesty say such words... Whatever Long Wilbur says, do it."
"Your Majesty trusts Chang Wei Bo, but this is not a good thing for our Armoury Bureau!" The confidant felt that the Armoury Bureau and the Mohist School were in competition.
"The so-called Armour Bureau is just a small part of the palace. How many years can I be in charge of it? Moreover, no matter how well I do in the Armour Bureau, can I still be promoted? There is only one position for each person in the palace, so how can there be a place for me?" Chen Shi said softly, "It is better to make friends with Chang Wei Bo. A word from him in His Majesty's mouth can be worth ten years of hard work in the Armour Bureau!"
The confidant was startled and slapped himself, "Yes, I am short-sighted. But Chang Wei Bochun is now in high spirits, I am afraid he will not look down on you."
"Hey! In the past, there were powerful people who came to the Armory to ask for things. How did we treat them?"
"You treat me with indifference and handle business impartially. This is also what I admire about you."
"But why are we so friendly to Long Wei Bo?" Chen Shi looked at his confidant. "We are just a criminal. Those powerful people may seem polite to us, but they don't hide their contempt in their bones.
Only Long Wilbur never cared about these things and never discriminated. Let's drink together! This is the first nobleman to invite me in all these years. Whether it's true or not, I appreciate this kindness! "
The craftsmen of the Armory Bureau were called together, and Feng Yuan picked out dozens of them. After they entered a workshop, this place became a forbidden area.
More than ten guards took turns to guard. According to the palace's instructions, anyone who dared to spy or steal secrets would be killed!
The craftsmen were a little confused and didn't know what this was for.
"Old Feng looks rosy-cheeked, as if he's more than ten years younger. What good thing has happened to him?"
"They say he got rich following Long Wilbur."
"Tsk tsk! Why didn't Long Wilbur take a liking to me back then?"
Feng Yuan coughed dryly and said, "Let's get everyone here because we have something to build."
He picked up the flintlock and held it up. "That's it."
"Old Feng, isn't this just a musket?" Someone laughed and said, "It's such a simple thing, why make such a fuss?"
"This is not an ordinary firearm, it's called... a fire musket!" Feng Yuan said seriously: "Within ten days, you must make more than a hundred. Everyone, if you fail to do it by the deadline, you will be severely punished. I will also bear the punishment. If you succeed, you will be rewarded handsomely!"
Clear rewards and punishments can better inspire craftsmen's sense of responsibility.
Feng Yuan called everyone over and disassembled the flintlock on the spot. He analyzed and introduced each component in order, followed by the dimensions and tolerances...
"Here are the blueprints, one for each of you. Oh, by the way, if these blueprints are leaked..." Feng Yuan looked at everyone, "Chang Wei Bo said that the main culprit will be skinned and stuffed with straw, and the whole family will be exiled to the sea as slaves. Your descendants will all be slaves!"
This is the heaviest penalty ever!
The craftsmen were impressed and all agreed.
Afterwards, the workshop was in full swing, and Jiang Qingzhi also went to Huben Zuowei.
There is still more than a month until the end of the year, but the training of the musketeers is imminent.
Yan Xu and others were overjoyed when they saw Jiang Qing whom they hadn't seen for a long time.
"Hello, uncle!"
"Yeah!" Jiang Qingzhi nodded, "How's the training going recently?"
"Don't worry, my Lord. Our Tiger Guards are the best in Beijing. Whether it's formation or swordsmanship, I dare say that no one in Beijing can defeat us!"
Yan Xu said proudly.
Someone said, "We, the Tiger Guards, were brought up by Lord Bo. If we lose Lord Bo's face, we will not be able to stay in the army any longer."
Jiang Qingzhi then reviewed the Huben Zuowei.
It is indeed much better than before.
After the drill, the generals looked at Jiang Qingzhi, waiting to be praised.
Jiang Qingzhi narrowed his eyes and looked at the formation, "From today on, the training of the Tiger Guards will start from the beginning!"
(End of this chapter)
