Outside the city, the Beijing camp martial arts field.

Zhang Zhou walked in front, followed by the second phase of Yanwutang, Liu Jing, Marquis of Anyuan, and Chen Shao, both of whom were old guys who had been heirs during the Yingzong period, and Liu Jing relied on the emperor's amnesty to return to Beijing, and because of the relationship between Liu Jing and the Empress Dowager Zhou, he was specially cared for by the Empress Dowager Zhou, making him a student of the second phase.

Compared with the rigor of the selection of the first phase of students, the second phase of students have more "crooked melons and cracked dates", and they are basically all related households, which also greatly reduces the authority of Yanwutang.

"Grandpa, the people you sent have already sent all the new guns, there are a hundred of them, and as for the thing you got that is called bullets, it is full of boxes......

Zhang Zhouben also stood on the high platform of the martial arts arena and chatted with Liu Jing and Chen Shao.

These old lords, who can't do anything else, when it comes to eating, drinking, and having fun, none of them lose to young people, and they are simply the best.

Zhang Zhoudao: "Let Sun Qianhu lead people to practice." ”

Chen Shao on the side asked: "Lai Guogong, dare to ask, is this fire gun different from the previous ones?" ”

At this time, a person came up from below, it was Wei Bin, the eunuch of the ceremonial supervisor Bingbi who was in charge of accompanying Zhang Zhou to the martial arts field today, and Wei Bin was likely to be in charge of the East Factory next, and what he was doing now was more to replace Xiao Jing.

Wei Bin said with a smile: "Then Amber asked well, our family has seen this firearm, and said that it will sound as long as you hook your fingers, and the range can even reach 200 steps, and the end is powerful, but I don't know if I can pass through the iron armor of the tartar." ”

"Hehe, how is that possible?" Liu Jing was laughing.

As he was talking, Tang Yin also went up to the high platform, and the person who was in charge of transporting the fire gun was none other than him, Tang Yin.

Behind Tang Yin, he also brought Lin Ting, the director of the Ministry of Works, who had just returned from Xuanfu, and Zhang Zhou's brother-in-law, both of whom will also serve as instructors of the second phase of Yanwutang.

"Let's get started." Zhang Zhou ordered Tang Yin on the side.

In the past, Wang Qiong was in charge of the daily artillery exercises and other things in the Yanwu Hall, but now Zhang Zhou can't count on anyone who is too capable, and Tang Yin has been promoted to the position of daily training officer.

Tang Yin took out the order flag and gave orders to the generals below.

……

……

"Bang ......"

The platoon of guns is continuous.

The standard bullets were transported in several baskets at a time, and forty brocade guards were lined up in two rows, with 20 people in the first row responsible for simulating the platoon of guns, and 20 people in the second row simulating loading.

In the Ming Dynasty, the musket often relied on three or even four rows to complete the firing of the arquebus, because the window period for firing in the face of cavalry was not long, and it was most appropriate to use two rows of guns to occur, and wait for the firing to be finished...... There is no need to fill the elixir, and you can basically enter the state of hand-to-hand combat.

But now it's different.

Twenty men were platoons of guns, one firing twice, aiming at a target one hundred and fifty paces away.

Two rows of guns were fired, and the interval was very short, and after the firing was over, the opposite target basically hit, and everyone watching the ceremony on the viewing platform also saw the actual situation with binoculars.

Twenty men then retreated, and the second platoon of gunners stepped forward, followed by two more rounds of gunning.

Wait for the second round to be withdrawn, and then the first round of reloading will be over......

After six or seven trips back and forth like this, both the lords and generals who were watching the ceremony, and the ordinary soldiers who were maintaining order next to them, were all dumbfounded.

"Done!"

After the end of the row of guns below, Sun Shangqi personally raised the small flag, and the brocade guards collected the guns, and then the aftermath of the people went to clean up the shooting range.

Wei Bin smiled and asked Liu Jingdao on the side, "What does Marquis An Yuan think?" ”

"It's amazing." Don't say that Liu Jing really thinks it's powerful, even if it's not amazing, he has to compliment him.

Wei Bin said: "If the soldiers of the Ming Dynasty can be equipped with this kind of flint gun in the future, the great cause of the flat grassland can be accomplished in the future." ”

Chen Shao asked: "If this is not ignited, why is it launched?" Won't it blow up? ”

Zhang Zhou said with a smile: "The ignition is to rely on the flint impact, but it is not very safe, and it will be improved in the future." There will still be a blast chamber, but the safety performance has been guaranteed, the cast steel pipe used, the effect is still average, if you renovate, you can increase the range of some more, the range of three or four hundred steps, much better than the general bow and arrow range. But it's still not comparable to the long gun. ”

"Complement each other, complement each other. Ha ha. Liu Jing smiled with a compliment.

Wei Bin said: "Mr. Zhang, I heard that this flint is very difficult to mine, and the cost is also very high, so you need to go to the south to minage, which is higher than the flint used for ignition folds." This thing...... How to produce energy in the future? ”

"It's just a transition." Zhang Zhou pointed to the artillery that was pushing forward below, "In the future, I plan to use flint cannons even for artillery, which can be ignited and fired at any time, eliminating the time for the fire rope to ignite, and the airtightness can also be improved, and the firing range will also be strengthened." Let's continue to watch the cannon. ”

……

……

The day was nothing more than a routine firearms demonstration.

After reading it, each of the lords and generals present needed to write a "review after viewing", which Wei Bin took back to Zhu Youji to read.

Because the new students have to be transferred from all over the country, and it is about to be winter, the start of the class may have to be delayed, Zhang Zhou came down from the martial arts arena, and saw Zhang Rui and Zhang Lun, father and son, accompanied by Yang Mi, the right attendant of the military department, escorted a batch of yellow powder to the martial arts arena.

Because Zhang Zhou has not been to the Ministry of War, he and Yang Mi only know each other, and there is no friendship, and Yang Mi, as the right attendant of the Ministry of War, basically does what he does is the left attendant.

In terms of etiquette, the two still have to be polite.

"Lai Guogong, the Ministry of War has negotiated with the Ministry of Industry, before the end of the year, a batch of saltpeter will be transferred from Huguang, Jiangjiang and other places to Beijing, saying that it will be directly transported to your private workshop, and then procured by the Ministry of Industry, at present, the mining of mineral deposits in various places has basically stagnated, and the saltpeter that can be handed over may not be enough......"

Yang Mi looked businesslike.

If you don't count enough, tell you in advance, don't say that we are causing you trouble.

But that's it...... The imperial court was trying to create difficulties for Zhang Zhou's preparations in the northwest.

It is not deliberate, because Zhang Zhou's preparation for war is more about the use of steel, black powder, and yellow powder, and Zhang Zhou has basically been able to produce and sell iron smelting, but the remaining scarce semi-finished products need to be requisitioned from mines around the country, and the cost of procurement needs to be allocated by the imperial court.

Even if the emperor gives the green light all the way, as long as there is a simple reason of "insufficient local output" and "excessive transportation loss", the neck of the firearm manufacturing can be stuck.

The card is still so reasonable.

Zhang Zhou said with a smile: "It doesn't matter, how much is transported, and I also plan to open some saltpeter mines around Beizhili recently, hoping that there will be no shortage of it." ”

"Okay." Yang Mi didn't care.

In his opinion, you can't open it, anyway, there is no loss to me, it's best that you don't reach out to the court for anything, and everyone's well water doesn't interfere with river water.

Zhang Rui asked: "Lai Guogong, I heard that in the past two days, there will be a war in Liaozhen, and Your Majesty will often summon the officials of the hearing office to discuss matters. ”

Zhang Zhoudao: "The things on the battlefield are changing rapidly, and there are very few things that Jingshi can ask about, so let Ling Zun take care of his illness." ”

Old man Zhang is sick, whether he is really sick or pretending to be sick, anyway, from the emperor to Zhang Zhou, no one thinks that Zhang Mao can provide any valuable help to the war between Liaodong and Duoyan Sanwei.

Yang Mi arranged manpower to send all the yellow powder to the military camp.

Liu Jing and Chen Shao also came over to greet Yang Mi, but Yang Mi took out an edict signed by Ma Wensheng, the secretary of the Ministry of War, from his arms and handed it to Zhang Zhou.

"Lai Guogong, there is no precedent for the Ministry of War to follow when receiving gunpowder funds transferred from various places, since you usually need to use these things, involving matters such as dispatch, it is better for you to hand them over in person, and the transportation costs involved, accounting and other matters must also be communicated with the Ministry of Industry and Taicang, and you can't fake your hands in the Ministry of War."

Yang Mi, as the right attendant of the military department who climbed up step by step, will do things officially.

In addition to giving you Zhang Bingkuan's trouble in mining raw materials, in terms of transportation and handover, don't expect us to help you complete, the accounting of freight, and a series of complex processes such as handover, and hand over to you to do it yourself, isn't your Yanwutang awesome? Do your own thing!

In this way, you will not be able to mine completely, and the transportation will not be complete, and there will be a lot of trouble when you receive it......

We are reasonably making trouble for you, and we can't just because you are a person close to the emperor, so we can't keep giving you special approvals, could it be that the resources such as the functions of the six ministries, such as the Ministry of War, the Yamen, and the manpower are just what you want?

Liu Jing and Chen Shao originally thought that when the two squires of the military department met, it should be a "friendly exchange".

After listening to two sentences, I realized that this was a traditional civil official looking for trouble for Zhang Zhou, an upstart.

At this point, they are not suitable to observe.

Zhang Zhou greeted with a smile: "Director Lin, Director Tang, you two come here." ”

Lin Ting and Tang Yin probably knew that it was not a good thing, but they still stepped forward according to their words.

Zhang Zhoudao: "Yang Shilang said, in the future, when it comes to the handover of gunpowder and other materials, you need to send someone to Yanwutang personally, I am usually busy with affairs, so I have to let the two of you do it for you." ”

Lin Ting glanced at Yang Mi and reminded Zhang Zhou in a low voice: "Only six heads will go to hand over the handover, and it will not be possible to do it for more than ten days or even more than a month." ”

This is to remind Zhang Zhou that the two directors of the six departments are soft-spoken, and they are not capable of dealing with the bigwigs of the household department, the Ministry of Industry and Taicang, let alone the superiors, even if they are some officials at the same and lower levels, this kind of official handover will be very troublesome.

Zhang Zhou leaned over and reminded Lin Ting in his ear.

Tang Yin's eyes widened, and even Liu Jing and Chen Shao on the side were curious about what this was about, only Yang Mi himself was not interested in Zhang Zhou's arrangement at all.

"That's it." Zhang Zhoudao, "The affairs of governing the army are already complicated, and sometimes they are beyond their reach, and it will also cause more trouble for the military department and other yamen." ”

Yang Mi arched his hand and said: "Lai Guogong is also a member of the six departments, so there is no need to say so. The mighty heavenly gunpowder has been handed over, and after the official letter is docked, it is better to go back to the yasu office as soon as possible! ”

……

……

Zhang Zhou and Wei Bin returned to the city and went in the direction of entering the palace.

Tang Yin followed Lin Ting to Wang Gong's factory to pick up a new batch of black powder, which was used to make signal flares on the battlefield.

"It's just to make some fireworks, and it can be handed over to the Ministry of Industry, so why hand it over?" Tang Yin rode on a horse and asked Lin Ting on the side.

The two are of the same age, Tang Yin and Zhang Zhou are still nominal brothers, and their status will not be lower than Lin Ting, who has no achievements in the officialdom.

But because Lin Ting and Zhang Zhou are related by marriage, and because Lin Ting is the son of an official eunuch, Tang Yin feels that he still has a lot to learn from Lin Ting, and he usually respects Lin Ting.

Lin Ting said: "This batch of gunpowder was transported to Liaodong. ”

"Combat use?" Tang Yin inquired.

"I don't know." Lin Ting will not study in such detail.

Tang Yin asked again, "What did Lai Guogong tell you before?" In the Ming Dynasty, all the yamen in the Ming Dynasty are making trouble with Yanwutang and hindering Lai Guogong's actions, so I'm afraid there is no good countermeasure now, right? In the future, it will be you and me who will be in trouble. ”

Lin Ting shook his head, and also looked puzzled: "Bingkuan said, we don't have to worry too much about these things in the future, because we will be independent from the six departments of the imperial court...... What I understand is that there is no way for others to set thresholds for them. ”

"Is it possible?"

Tang Yin frowned.

In his opinion, his senior brother seems to be too idealistic.

People go with the flow in the court, and many times they can't help themselves, and you say that you will break away?

Lin Ting said: "I probably still have to open my own mines, if these products are all from newly opened mines, then I probably don't need to use others." ”

Tang Yin said: "You don't need manpower to open a mine? Doesn't it take a lot of people to ship? And in the court, he will be under the control of the court. ”

"Bohu, you and I are doing things, you don't have to care so much, do you want to go to Xuanfu to guard the iron mine? Or go to Datong to guard the coal mine? Now you and I are still in the six departments to watch politics, and I don't know what to say when I see them...... We are on an errand in the court, sometimes even if we are in the cracks, but you and I are such insignificant characters, why do you care so much? ”

Lin Ting still thinks about it.

Working with Zhang Zhou, it seems that his current official position is not beyond the scope of the official position that a new science and technology jinshi can assume.

But at least the future is better than others, and with the qualification to serve the imperial court, it can be regarded as the realization of the ideal...... Care about so many intrigues...... In other words, the two new science and technology scholars are still entangled in the issue of the party in the court?

Lin Ting said: "Recently, when I saw those who were the same year, they were all asking if they had the opportunity to enter the Yanwu Hall, what you and I didn't want to do, there were a lot of people who wanted to do it. Whether or not we can gain a foothold in the DPRK and China depends not only on our ability but also on our attitude...... Bingkuan also worked for the imperial court, and he did nothing wrong in the end. ”

"Oh." Tang Yin nodded.

I always feel that Lin Ting is forcibly looking for psychological comfort.

It was difficult to convince Lin Ting, and Tang Yin had to accept the reality of fate.

I don't want to get on this boat, but I also sail on the ocean with this boat, and there is no way back.

……

……

"Bingkuan, I just learned the news that the little prince of Tatar has withdrawn from Ningxia West Road, and there seem to be signs of eastward expansion. Qin Hong told me that maybe Batu Munch had signs of violating the border from the border and other places, and said that he might enter the Hetao......"

Zhang Zhou and Wei Bin entered the palace to see Zhu Youji, and Zhu Youzhu hurriedly brought the battle report he had just received to Zhang Zhou.

Zhang Zhou said: "Your Majesty, now that winter is coming soon, Tatar activities should also slow down. Now we should pay more attention to the affairs of Liaodong. ”

"Alas!" Zhu Youzhu sighed, "Everywhere in Beiguan, whenever there is any news, it is easy for me to think more." Sometimes you want to tie everything together, but you don't get the point. ”

Saying that, Zhu Youzhu looked like a bride to be married, and looked restless.

Xiao Jing, who was standing on the side, said with a smile: "The little prince of Tatar withdraws his troops, which should be a good thing for Daming." ”

Zhu Youzhu said: "But he still took away six people and hundreds of livestock...... There are already people in the DPRK and China who are participating in the impeachment of Chengguo Gong Zhu Fu failed to fulfill his responsibility to defend against the enemy, and he is impeached. Lian Bingkuan you...... They were also criticized. ”

This is called borrowing the topic to play.

The Dayan Department sent 30,000 cavalry, plundered six people and hundreds of livestock, which sounds like a lot, but compared to the loss of the Tatar troops this time, the losses are actually within a reasonable range.

After all, in such an open area, even if it was a grass and rabbit in the past, it was impossible to catch only six Ming people.

And strictly speaking, these six people are not the border people of the Ming Dynasty, and they are not two to say.

After all, in Ningxia and other places, there are also many small tribes who have taken refuge in the Ming Dynasty, and this time Batu Munch wants to establish authority for these small tribes.

"Your Majesty, according to the analysis of the ministers, the withdrawal of Tatar troops may also be due to the fact that the fire screening department has been stationed in the Hetao and there are signs of continuing to advance westward." Zhang Zhoudao, "At present, it seems that the little prince of Tatar and the fire sieve will have a rivalry outside of Ningxia, Yansui and other places, and they can't take care of the affairs of Liaodong, which is helpful to the advancement of the war in Liaodong." ”

"But there's still no news. At the court this morning, Li Ge Lao also mentioned to me that if the Ming Dynasty entered the grassland and could not find the main force of Duoyan Sanwei to fight, it would be better to withdraw the troops and come back early, and wait for the spring of the next year to warm up and fight again. I was a little angry at that time, and my tone was a little rushed, telling them that if there was no result in a preparation for a battle, it would greatly damage the morale of the soldiers, so they had to make some gains. The ministers of the DPRK and China will surely think that I am too extreme. ”

Zhang Zhou felt the pressure that Zhu Youzhu was under.

Sending troops is not within the scope of the court's decision, it is a decision of Zhu Youzhu and him, and if the dispatch of troops is very smooth, the minister is understandable.

But with the passage of time, the war has not come for a long time, and there is no result, in the eyes of the minister, it is a waste of money and labor, the emperor said that he doesn't care, and he turned around to teach those ministers who only sang the opposite, but how could the emperor not feel the pressure exerted by those courtiers?

Xiao Jing asked, "Sir, when the matter comes, you should also settle it, did this war happen?" The result? Didn't you say that the closer you go, the more accurate you are? ”

If you can't do anything, you want to listen to the destiny of heaven.

Zhang Zhou said with a smile: "According to the time calculation, Duoyan Sanwei should move west in the next few days, and the ambush operation will also take place in these few days, as short as four or five days, as long as ten days, and there will be results." Your Majesty is at ease. ”

(End of chapter)