Daming: After self-explosive time travel, Lao Zhu's mentality collapsed

"I am deeply honored to pay my respects to Your Majesty!" Prefect Sun raised the memorial in his hand and saluted respectfully.

"No need to be polite." Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand and said with a smile: "My dear Sun, please quickly report to me the military achievements under Runing."

"Yes!" After receiving the order, Prefect Sun began to report in a torrent of words.

"Your Majesty, in recent years, under the careful guidance of the prince, our Runing has made some achievements. First of all, the artillery. The 'centipede submachine gun' displayed here can carry hundreds of bullets. Once fired, the force is very fierce and the destructive power is unparalleled; the second is the matchlock gun, which is easy to load and flexible to operate, greatly increasing the shooter's attack frequency; the third is various gunpowders. Runing can now produce various advanced ammunition such as flash bombs, dust bombs and even explosives..."

Prefect Sun listed the newly developed firearms of Runing one by one. As Zhu Yuanzhang listened, he gradually felt hesitant.

"Oh, these new gadgets are really fresh. It seems that the military equipment of our Ming Dynasty has gradually improved." He nodded approvingly, then looked at Prefect Sun and asked, "However, a few cannons are just small things after all. In my opinion, to improve the strength of military equipment, the key is to have an elite force to use it!"

"That's right!" Prefect Sun understood Zhu Yuanzhang's meaning and nodded repeatedly: "So, I, Runing, have also started training the new army according to your deployment."

"New army?" Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Chu Ze beside him in confusion, "Lord Chu, what is this 'new army'?"

"Your Majesty, please wait a moment." Chu Ze replied with a smile. He waved his hand and soon a team of soldiers in fiery red uniforms came in formation.

"Your Majesty, this new army is the newly developed 'Firearms Battalion'." Chu Ze pointed at the team and explained slowly: "Everyone of them has mastered the use of various new firearms and has received professional training in advanced Western close combat techniques."

"With these new weapons and tactics, this unit has a strong mobile combat capability. Even in complex terrain, they can display powerful firepower."

"Oh?" Zhu Yuanzhang listened, looked at the team, and nodded thoughtfully: "In this case, let the Firearm Battalion show its strength in front of me now!"

"Yes." After Chu Ze received the order, he shouted, "Firearms Battalion, line up now and prepare to display your firepower!"

With a loud bang, dozens of cannons fired, and clouds of smoke and dust immediately covered the sky.

The soldiers of the firearms battalion were very skilled, standing at attention and squatting to shoot, their movements were vigorous and powerful. The weapons they used were even more varied, including loaded rifles, armor-piercing cannons, incendiary bombs, etc., the variety of which was unprecedented.

Zhu Yuanzhang was shocked by the bustling scene before him. He stared in a daze for a moment before he came to his senses and nodded in admiration for a long time.

"This is really amazing. It is indeed a new army with strict discipline and fierce firepower!" He turned around and said to Chu Ze and Prefect Sun, "You guys really put in a lot of effort to innovate new weapons and combat methods. I deserve a reward, a reward!"

Seeing that Zhu Yuanzhang praised Runing's firearms battalion, Prefect Sun, Chu Ze and others were naturally delighted.

"Thank you for your appreciation, Your Majesty." Prefect Sun bowed and said humbly, "If it weren't for Prince Chu's foresight and personal preparation, it would be impossible for such an advanced army to be born in Runing."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded in approval. He looked around, his eyes wandering for a moment between the dozens of cannons and hundreds of elite soldiers, before he spoke:
"I have seen that this lineup is extraordinary and its firepower is amazing. It is indeed the strongest force in the Ming army! Lord Chu, it seems that your reform layout in Fengyang has begun to bear fruit. You really deserve to be rewarded."

As he spoke, he reached into his sleeve and pulled out a heavy golden tiger talisman, held it high, and slowly walked in front of Chu Ze.

"The words 'Fire God' are engraved on this tiger talisman, and it was bestowed by me personally." He handed the tiger talisman to Chu Ze and said earnestly: "From now on, you will be the governor of the 'Fire God Camp' in front of the Ming Dynasty, in charge of firearms and military affairs. I hope you will continue to make great efforts and promote the firearms industry throughout the country!" "Thank you, Your Majesty, for the important task." Chu Ze took the tiger talisman with both hands and saluted respectfully.

He raised the tiger talisman high above his head and shouted to the firearms battalion behind him, "Form a battle array!"

With a "bang" of the cannon, the entire firearms battalion immediately lined up and stood upright, looking very majestic.

"Meet the Governor of the Vulcan Camp!"

Strong and powerful shouts rang out in the smoke of artillery fire, and the soldiers looked at them with sharp eyes, staring eagerly.

Zhu Yuanzhang was shocked by such a scene, and couldn't help but give a thumbs up to Chu Ze and praised him: "Good, good! Your spirit is no less than that of a fierce general. If you can lead the army well, you will definitely be able to unify the Fire God Camp and achieve hegemony!"

Chu Ze bowed and said, "I will follow your majesty's instructions. Although the Fire God Camp is still in its infancy, we will never give up and build it into an indestructible blade for the Ming Dynasty!"

Hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang was overjoyed and was about to say something.

"Your Majesty, Prince, there is one more important matter!" At this time, Marquis Han, who had been serving on the side, suddenly stepped out and interrupted.

"Well? My dear Han, you go ahead." Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand at him.

"It's about the fuel reserves of the firearms camp." Han Hou said solemnly: "Although firearms can be manufactured now, the reserves of gunpowder and other fuels are insufficient, which has restricted marches and battles. Therefore, the emperor should reconsider the firearms business."

"Oh? Is that true?" Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned for a moment, then turned to look at Chu Ze and asked, "Where should gunpowder be made? Do you have any ideas?"

"Gunpowder is mainly made of saltpeter, sulfur, charcoal, etc." Chu Ze said without hiding anything: "Making gunpowder is not difficult, but it takes a lot of effort to collect the raw materials. Especially saltpeter, we are still exploring it."

At this point, Chu Ze couldn't help but fall into deep thought. Without sufficient gunpowder reserves, the combat effectiveness of the new army would inevitably be greatly affected. This requires solving the problem from the source.

"Your Majesty." After a moment, Chu Ze raised his eyes and said to Zhu Yuanzhang: "Saltpeter is indeed the source of munitions. If we want to develop it, we need to come up with a good strategy. I wonder if your majesty has any good ideas?"

Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head and said, "I only know how to fight with force. You can make your own decisions on other technical issues. But if you have any good ideas, we will listen to them."

"In that case, then..." Chu Ze hesitated for a moment, and finally said with determination: "The output of saltpeter is small. Instead of forcing it to be mined, it is better to find another way. I plan to develop a new type of gun barrel that can use coal or oil as fuel. In this way, the reserve of gunpowder will no longer be a bottleneck."

"Oh! That makes sense!" Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly realized: "Without the restraint of gunpowder, the army will be invincible!"

"Then, Lord Chu, are you sure you can do this?" He looked at Chu Ze with a burning gaze.

"If you can't, I won't entrust you with the important task of leading the Fire God Camp any longer!" (End of this chapter)