Next, Gao Jie also followed the impeachment.

Ruan Dacheng announced the charges of many people in Donglin again.

Guo Wendong stood in the Wuying Palace, watching this lively scene, and spoke at the right time to strengthen his own momentum.

Although the Donglin Party also impeached Ma Shiying and others in turn, the momentum and weight were obviously insufficient.

Since the Song Dynasty, the national policy of emphasizing literature over military force has been implemented, and scholars are respected.

But by the end of the Ming Dynasty, the imperial court gradually lost its authority and binding force on military generals, and many military generals were arrogant and domineering, did not listen to orders, and the military generals who held military power became more and more influential.

In the court, the two sides fought fiercely, and the emperor was clearly on Ma Shiying's side, supported by heavy generals.

Jiang Yueguang, who was listed by Ma Shiying for five major crimes, resigned from his official position on the spot.

Lu Daqi and Gao Hongtu also resigned from their official positions.

Zhang Shenyan was dismissed.

In the face of obvious disadvantages, Shi Kefa did not resign. In the end, the emperor made a decision to transfer him to Yangzhou, called to control many military generals in Jiangbei, but in fact, few people would listen to him.

After the decree was issued, Guo Wendong came out again and said: "Your Majesty, the minister thinks that the four sinners Jiang Yueguang, Lu Daqi, and Zhang Shenyan should be demoted to the common people and get rid of all fame!" ”

Shi Kefa, Jiang Yueguang, Lu Daqi, Zhang Shenyan and other Donglin people all looked at Guo Wendong, their eyes were full of resentment, and they gritted their teeth.

Ma Shiying said: "Not arresting the two people and putting them in prison is already the greatest tolerance, and the original fame cannot be retained, and it should be demoted to a common person." ”

Gao Jie said: "The minister seconded the proposal! ”

Ruan Dacheng, Ma Xi, Ma Jian, Qian Qianyi and others all seconded the proposal.

In history, these Donglin Party members were only dismissed or resigned, and the privileges of the original scholars were still retained.

On the Wuying Palace, the people of Donglin no longer have the scenery and spirit of the past, and they are depressed.

"You Aiqing is right, I'm right!"

Zhu Yousong made a final decision.

The vacant positions of the four must be taken over, Ruan Dacheng will take over as the secretary of the military department, Qian Qianyi will take over as the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, and Zhang Youyu will take over as the secretary of the household department.

After retiring from the dynasty, Guo Wendong was left behind by Zhu Yousong.

"Guo Aiqing, the elixir is very useful, it's almost gone, does Aiqing still have it?"

"Your Majesty needs the elixir, the minister should think about His Majesty, and has been contacting and urging overseas friends, and he obtained a batch of elixir a few days ago, and he will present it to His Majesty tomorrow."

"Guo Aiqing, you are a loyal minister!"

Zhu Yousong was stumbling and praising loudly.

Outside the Wuying Palace, the courtiers walked down the stairs.

The four people who resigned or were dismissed, as well as Shi Kefa, who was transferred abroad, must go to the Ministry of Officials to go through the relevant procedures.

Guo Wendong followed Ma Shiying, Liu Zeqing and others, and came to the Ministry with the Donglin Party.

Zhang Shenyan, Gao Hongtu, Lu Daqi, and Jiang Yueguang took off their official uniforms and hats on the spot.

Ma Shiying and others, with the attitude of a victor, said some ridiculous words.

Guo Wendong sneered: "You will have no one to donate in the future, but you have to save some money!" ”

Shi Kefa, who had an upright personality, became angry again, slammed the sleeve of the Buddha's coat, and said angrily: "You traitors, it won't be long before you are proud. ”

Jiang Yueguang said: "Whether it is loyalty or treachery, the world's scholars will have their own public opinions!" ”

Jiangnan is the nest of the Donglin Party, with many members. The Donglin Party, which failed in the struggle in the court, will not really be willing to lose, and still hopes that through the vast number of Donglin scholars, it will control the public opinion of the scholar group and serve itself.

Guo Wendong said coldly: "Well said, the people of the world will have their own opinions." I will make it clear to all the people of the world who you really are. ”

After completing the formalities, these people left the Imperial City Office in a gloomy manner.

This time there was a big victory, everyone was in a good mood, and Ma Shiying invited everyone to the mansion and have a drink together.

The study of military weapons and the training of soldiers and horses have always been what Guo Wendong is most concerned about, and having a strong army is the last word.

The next morning, Guo Wendong came to the arsenal again.

Song Yingsheng and Song Yingxing took Guo Wendong to the workshop under construction, where the workers were building the furnace.

Song Yingxing said: "My lord, the investment method and the lost wax method are commonly used methods for casting guns. My plan is to use the lost wax method to forge a better steel cannon. In order to create a cannon that could fight better than the original redcoat cannon and ensure that it did not explode, it would take many trials and improvements in the casting method. As long as there are no accidents, it can be minted within this year. Once the furnace is built, the Tiger Squat Cannon can be crafted first. ”

At the end of this month, production facilities can be built, partly for the casting of Tiger squat cannons, and partly for experimental casting of new cannons.

Coming to the flintlock pistol production area, the craftsmen here are much more skilled than when they first came, and the pass rate of the parts produced has increased a lot compared with the beginning.

In the arsenal, horse-drawn carriages carrying raw materials enter every three or five days, of which pig iron accounts for the largest proportion.

The flint used in the manufacture of flintlock pistols, commonly known as flint, is a relatively common siliceous rock, and the flint knives and fire sickles used for ignition are all made of flint.

Flint is distributed in many places in the south of the Yangtze River, and there are special people who mine it.

Coming to the warehouse, a large number of flintlock pistols were neatly stacked.

According to Song Yingsheng's account, there are 600 self-made firearms here, and the required number of two platoons can be gathered tomorrow and sent to the army the day after tomorrow.

According to the daily output of 70 pieces, the five-day output can be equipped with a platoon.

In the afternoon, Guo Wendong came to the barracks again to inspect.

"... Lying... ..."

At the musket training ground, gunshots were fired from time to time, soldiers were training to shoot, and Zhang Huangyan was supervising the training.

"You're holding the gun in the wrong position!"

"Look at you, you only hit the seven rings, and you didn't aim accurately enough!"

"You're too slow to reload!"

……………

Zhang Huangyan was pointing out the problem of soldiers.

Seeing Guo Wendong coming, he hurriedly ran to meet him with a military salute.

Guo Wendong said: "It's been eight days since I was equipped with a self-made firearm, how did I practice?" ”

Zhang Huang said: "The soldiers have not been trained for a long time, and most of them still have problems, but this is already good, as long as they shoot accurately, reload quickly, and strictly abide by military discipline, they can go to the battlefield to kill the Tartars." Even I can't shoot well enough, and I still need a lot of practice. Even the lowly position is not accurate enough. ”

After Zhang Huangyan's troops were equipped with flintlock pistols, the officers gathered first, first learned how to use flintlock pistols, and then the officers instructed ordinary soldiers.

Guo Wendong said: "The time it takes to train musketeers is much faster than training cavalry, which is our capital to compete with the Eight Banners." ”

Zhang Huangyan nodded and said, "Yes!" There are no good horses in Jiangnan, which is the most convenient and effective way to deal with the Qing soldiers. At this time, he showed a pleased smile and said, "My lord, there is a chief who is very talented in shooting, and in just a few days, he has shot accurately. He is the head of the third Shi below the second team in the first row, and his name is Li Zhique. ”

Subsequently, this chief Li Zhique was called over by Zhang Huangyan.

"See Lord Guo and Lord Zhang!"

Li Zhique came over and saluted the two respectfully.

Guo Wendong said: "Li Zhique, you can shoot a few shots to show this official!" ”

"Yes!"

Li Zhique picked up a flintlock pistol and shot at a distance of 50 meters from the target.