Zhu Yuanzhang can see my dreams

Chapter 315 Someone wants to harm me

Inside the Arms Bureau.

Everyone was making a lot of noise.

After waking up early in the morning.

Everyone was drinking the muddy porridge made from the large bones left over from yesterday's stew.

While discussing the extremely high salary offered by the Prince Consort.

Craftsmen such as Lu Hou all expressed that they must conduct a thorough study, otherwise they would be letting down the prince consort for raising so much funds.

Especially these craftsmen saw that the prince consort did not compete with them for oil and water, and only ate meat bones and vegetables.

Let me ask everyone here, who would like to eat bones instead of fat?
Everyone’s bowl is filled with fat and a little lean meat!

It can be seen that the prince consort is truly honest and is not just acting.

After all, after asking those yamen runners, he found out that the prince consort always ate bones when he had "dinners" in the county government office, and never competed with his subordinates for the fat meat.

After dinner, everyone waited for a while, and when they saw that the prince consort had not arrived yet, they felt a little worried.

It is because Lu Hou, the chief craftsman, is very experienced. Can the prince consort’s working hours be the same as ours?

Take advantage of this time to put out all the muskets, and when the prince consort comes, let him choose which one to improve first.

After Zhong Niu pushed open the door, he saw that the muskets placed in the yard were all pointing at the door, so he immediately stretched out his arms to stop Wang Buli and moved him to the side.

When Lu Hou saw someone coming, he dodged and quickly ran out to apologize.

Zhong Niu scolded him angrily: "Next time, aim at the yard, not the door. What if something goes wrong?"

Wang Buli patted Zhong Niu's shoulder with satisfaction. It was already very good that he didn't dodge immediately.

Even if we open fire from this distance, no one can escape.

"Be careful next time. These firearms are dangerous things after all."

After hearing Wang Buli's reprimand, Lu Hou and others quickly responded.

In fact, closing the door is necessary according to Lao Zhu's request.

There are people standing guard in front of the door. Such confidential matters cannot be seen by ordinary people.

What if it was stolen and used against the emperor? Wouldn’t that be dangerous?
Especially for "easy-to-carry" firearms such as hand cannons, except for the central government, no other places were allowed to cast them.

Wang Buli also understood the current firearms equipment of the Ming army: for every hundred soldiers, there were ten blunderbusses, twenty swords and shields, thirty bows and arrows, and forty rifles.

He had already discussed with the fourth brother about the muskets, and now they are all muzzle-loading straight-barreled ones.

It was not until the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty that the shape of the cannon was changed to be thin at the front and thick at the back, and a fire door cover and a gunpowder key were added, which increased its power.

This is also the reason why Zheng He was widely equipped with muskets during his voyages to the West.

But it was still not the common rifle shape of later generations. It was not until the Jiajing period that it ushered in its second leap in development.

It is called a musket, but in fact it is just like a small cannon.

Wang Buli picked up the straight barrel and gestured for a while: "Lu Hou, the fire gun is too thick and heavy. It is not easy to hold and operate."

This musket is about 40 centimeters long and weighs about five or six kilograms. It looks like a rolling pin.

In his heart, he was thinking that making a matchlock gun would be a great progress. Then, he would arrange a red cannon for the fourth brother, which would be just the right way to defeat the larger force with the smaller one.

Lu Hou and others began to draw the map according to Wang Buli's ideas, but there was actually no need to start the furnace right away.

After all, there has to be a preliminary design of the blueprint, then some sticks to make do with, and finally a furnace to burn iron.

Today's muskets are all made of copper, which is so rare!

Even if we want to make new ones, we have to melt these old pistols and then make new ones.

So everyone started thinking and began to draw, trying to make a weapon like the one that the prince consort had, which could be held in his hand more conveniently and also make it more powerful and shoot farther.

As their breadwinner, what did Wang Buli's requests matter?

Wang Buli was lying on the recliner, but he was not in a hurry.

Research and development.

It just wastes time.

It's very normal to slack off.

Wang Buli had rejected all the design drawings for several days in a row, so he decided not to "oppress" these craftsmen here. He pretended to go on a street patrol, but actually went back to check on his father's pharmacy.

Doctor Wang has been quite busy these days because the teaching at the Langzhong Hospital headed by the Fifth Prince has officially begun.

As a guest teacher, Dr. Wang was generous in passing on his surgical skills to others.

Dafan was actually a little unhappy when the master was teaching his apprentice. After all, he was the last disciple of the master, but the master passed on his most precious skills to others.

"Second brother is here."

Shi Dafan hurried out to greet him.

Wang Buli hummed and sat aside: "Where's my dad?"

"I'm taking my junior brother out for a consultation."

Wang Buli nodded slightly and asked with a smile if Dafan wanted to get married recently. He would find a good girl for him when the time comes.

Shi Dafan used to have Wang Xingying in mind, but now it seems unrealistic. He smiled and left it to his master to decide.

"Well, my dad walks around the streets and knows more about the neighborhood than I do."

After Wang Buli finished talking about this life-long event, he asked Shi Dafan if his skills had improved and whether he wanted to go to the Langzhong Hospital to take some lessons so that he could have a good future.

Shi Dafan was slightly stunned. He thought to himself, I am the last disciple, how can I learn someone else's skills?
"Brother, this is not a good thing."

"What's wrong with that? My father couldn't bear the emperor's favor, so he handed over his skills.

As his last disciple, you must go to the Langzhong Hospital to learn the skills of the Imperial Hospital, so that our family will not suffer any loss, do you understand?"

Listen to Wang Buli tell the "truth".

Shi Dafan was so scared that he quickly looked outside the door. How could such a thing be said casually?
"Second brother, keep your voice down."

Although Shi Dafan can now run his own business independently, he still needs to hone his skills.

"I still need to ask Master about this."

"Ah."

Wang Buli nodded slightly. Doctor, it would be good for you to learn more skills while you are young, so that you can live on your savings when you are older.

Although Shi Dafan said this, Wang Buli felt that he was moved.

Adhering to the simple belief that if you suffer a loss, you must make up for it, he decided to go to this doctor's hospital.

The eldest brother Wang Guanzhong walked into the drugstore with a bitter face. He wanted to complain to his father, but he saw Wang Buli sitting there.

"Second brother!"

Wang Guanzhong quickly sat aside and said, "I'm afraid I have no hope of passing the imperial examination."

"What's wrong?" Wang Buli was lying on the recliner prepared for his father, fanning himself, feeling very comfortable.

Then I heard Wang Guanzhong complaining that a new policy had been introduced for the imperial examinations recently. The examination would not only test the Four Books and Five Classics, but also the Ming Dynasty Law and mathematics, in an attempt to restore the Tang Dynasty model.

The main reason is that His Majesty is very angry that a group of Jinshi who studied the Four Books and Five Classics, after becoming officials, cannot even handle government affairs and are not even familiar with the laws of the Ming Dynasty, and leave everything to the clerks under them.

Then anyone can sit in that position, there is no need for a scholar like you.

He is not capable of handling government affairs, but is capable of corruption and abuse of power.

Now there are only two possible outcomes: either reform the imperial examination system or do not establish it.

To blame.

It’s all because the successful candidates in the previous two sessions were so disappointing that they pissed off the emperor.

It is true that the ancestors ate all the meat, and the later generations can only be beaten.

Wang Buli shook his fan and nodded: "Brother, this is what you have to do if you want to take the imperial examination."

"Second brother, I heard a rumor that some students are preparing to gather in front of the palace. Your Majesty, please give them another chance. After this class finishes the exam, the next class will study Ming Dynasty law and mathematics again."

Wang Buli suddenly stopped fanning himself and stared at Wang Guanzhong: "Brother, you don't want to go too, do you?"

"How can I, a centurion official, do such a treasonous thing for them?"

Wang Guanzhong seemed a little guilty. After all, it was because of Wang Buli, and many outstanding students were selected to go to the north for training.

He, a mediocre student, suddenly became the best in the Imperial College.

"Brother, I am good at solving cases after all. You lied to me. Tsk tsk tsk." Wang Buli closed his fan and knocked him on the head: "You are underestimating my reputation as Wang Bansheng of Jiangning County!"

Wang Guanzhong then laughed a few times and said, "You can't hide anything from me. Someone came to me and asked me to lead a group of students to ask His Majesty for mercy. I didn't agree immediately and said I would think about it. I wanted to ask Dad what he thought, so I asked you first."

"Whoever is looking for you, stay away from him from now on. He is trying to test the waters with you." Wang Buli opened his fan and continued to fan:

"Brother, people in the officialdom are treacherous. I don't know how many officials in the court want to deal with me, and they want to find you to start with."

Upon hearing this, Wang Guanzhong nodded quickly.

Dad had already instructed that my second brother must not be dragged down. After all, my second brother is now favored by His Majesty, and there must be people in the court who are jealous.

He just didn't expect this consequence.

"Brother, do you think the emperor discussed this with you?"

Wang Buli could only give his elder brother some advice. After all, he had been in the Imperial College for a long time and didn't know the dangers of officialdom, nor had he been exposed to this kind of education at home.

He seldom talks about work at home. It's all about intrigue, so there's no need to spread it around.

"Either you accept the exam and become an official, or you don't take the exam and become an idle wanderer." There was a questioning look in Wang Guanzhong's eyes.

"That's right, that's what I mean. The Yuan Dynasty didn't hold the imperial examination for more than 40 years, but it still functioned normally, didn't it?

Don't think that scholars are so important. Now that His Majesty is willing to improve the imperial examination system and has not cut off the path to promotion for you scholars, you can just smile secretly.

By that time, if the imperial examinations are not held for more than ten years, you won’t be able to do anything about it!

Both Emperor Xuanzong of Tang and Wang Anshi said that the imperial examination system needed to be improved, and that the candidates selected were not real talents.

Wang Buli didn't have too high expectations for his brother. How could he know so many dirty things if he had never rolled in the mud?

Besides, being an official in the Hongwu Dynasty is not the best choice at the moment. Being able to have a hereditary centurion title would give you face and you would not have to worry about food and drink.

Wang Buli also predicted that it would be difficult for his elder brother to pass the imperial examination as he lacked the tenacious determination.

Wang Guanzhong leaned back in his chair, thinking carefully that ever since that group of students went to the north, many people had come to flatter him intentionally or unintentionally.

It turns out the root is here!
"Second brother, don't worry, I will never cause you any trouble in the Imperial College."

"Well, I trust my elder brother's character." Wang Buli continued to fan himself, "It's just that the authorities are confused."

Hearing this, Wang Guanzhong showed an extremely satisfied smile on his face.

It has to be said that Wang Buli gives people extremely high emotional value.

Even Shi Dafan, who was listening at the side, felt that he had been feeling uncomfortable recently, and it was also because he was in the dark as he was involved in the matter.

"Brother, give me the name of the person who encouraged you, and I will investigate secretly."

"it is good."

Not long after, Doctor Wang came back with his youngest son.

So the four father and his two sons went to a restaurant for a meal under Wang Buli's arrangement.

During the dinner, Doctor Wang reminded his four sons that after all, his last disciples should be raised as his own sons.

The master-disciple relationship is still very important in this era.

Wang Buli was able to listen to his father's teachings. As for the people present, he was the one who was exposed to the dark side of society too early.

The rest of the people had never been beaten, and with Wang Buli looking after them, their minds were inevitably much simpler.

Doctor Wang, who had lived through the end of the Yuan Dynasty, was quite sad that his second son was so precocious.

Only you know how much suffering you have endured, and no one will feel the same even if you tell them about it.

During the dinner, Wang Guanzhong expressed his wish to help his father make pills. Even though Ye Qinhuai was not as popular as before, the quality of Xiaoyao Pills was still there and they were in short supply.

The apprentice Shi Dafan also expressed that he wanted to go to Langzhong Hospital to gain some experience. He must not let his master's skills go to waste, and he must learn some skills from others and bring them back.

Doctor Wang looked at his sons who were about to grow up and couldn't help but sigh that he was getting old after all.

Everyone dispersed and went about their business.

Wang Buli skipped work and went home.

The craftsmen in the Armory Bureau are still racking their brains to improve muskets and other equipment according to the Prince Consort's ideas.

But the current progress is really slow.

But Wang Buli had already said that if innovation was to be carried out, preparations such as drawings must be made first, and then research and casting must be carried out, and finally improvements must be made based on actual conditions.

All things are difficult at the beginning, so don't rush into doing things.

These craftsmen from the Armory Bureau haven't worked much in recent days, but they have eaten very well, and it must be said that many of them have become more human.

When Zhu Yuanzhang received the report from the inspector, it was probably because he was not satisfied with the drawings designed by the craftsmen, so he asked them to continue working.

"Our son-in-law is really ambitious." Zhu Yuanzhang certainly understood Wang Buli's standards, but he felt that they were unrealistic.

"It's a waste of money to raise them."

Zhu Biao did not agree with Zhu Yuanzhang's complaints.

According to his understanding, since the money had been approved by Wang Buli, it was his business how to spend it. As long as the finished product was produced in the end, the money would not be wasted.

Now Zhu Biao understands more and more that the saying "It's hard for me to help you if you don't give me money" is really philosophical.

It’s just that the emperor chose to reward mostly his meritorious officials rather than those at the bottom of society.

"Dad, the money has been spent." Zhu Biao looked at the report and smiled, "Don't you see that these craftsmen have become more skilled and their faces have become rounder? They will be able to forge muskets better in the future."

"We know." Zhu Yuanzhang still did not raise his head from the desk:

"I was just thinking, if Wang Buli's big move continues, how long will it take for these craftsmen to make better firearms for us to use?

It would be better to put it on the ship at that time, so that we can conquer Japan more quickly.

I can’t wait to see the silver mines.”

"Dad, mineral deposits are not easy to find. Why don't we look for more in Yunnan first?" Zhu Biao flipped through the report from the Ministry of Revenue:

"Some time ago, I asked the Ministry of Revenue to investigate the news about Yunnan during the Yuan Dynasty. There were indeed copper mines discovered, but the output was very small. After we occupy Yunnan in the future, we will conduct large-scale exploration and perhaps there will be greater discoveries."

"Ah."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded slightly. He couldn't rely on Japan for the time being, so he could only look at Yunnan first.

As long as the road is built, the soldiers can push forward directly to avoid any further complications.

"There is one more piece of news that needs attention."

Zhu Biao lifted a document from the table and said, "The students of the Imperial College are resisting the new policy on the imperial examination system promulgated by the emperor. Many people are secretly colluding and want to ask Your Majesty to revoke the order."

"Humph."

Zhu Yuanzhang slammed his pen on the table: "I really gave them face!"

According to Zhu Yuanzhang's temper, after he stopped the imperial examination, he had no plan to restart it immediately. He stopped it for a few years to clean up the bad practices in the officialdom.

Wait until the right time to find a reason to hold the imperial examination.

Now we finally give them a chance to study new subjects well, but these people are not convinced.

Do you really think I am discussing this with them?
"Someone put the blame on Wang Guanzhong."

"Wang Buli's elder brother?" Zhu Yuanzhang looked up at his son.

"Correct."

"How is your knowledge?"

Zhu Biao smiled and said, "It's okay. After a group of excellent students went to the north for training, people like him emerged.

Plus, he is Wang Buli's elder brother, so it's normal for him to be praised a little in the Imperial College."

Zhu Yuanzhang knew that his son was just saying something nice, which meant that he was just average in academic ability.

"I don't know if someone is behind this or if he is really that stupid."

"Dad, don't worry. We have the smart man Wang Buli here. He was the one who came up with the idea. He will definitely be able to stop his elder brother." Zhu Biao smiled and flipped through another report:
"I have been studying hard at home these past few days, and I also bought books on Ming Dynasty law and mathematics."

"Ah."

Zhu Yuanzhang said nothing more. If Wang Guanzhong was really used as a gun to lead the people from the Imperial College to cause trouble, then he could just go to the Jiangning County Prison. It would be a good opportunity for him to experience the prison that had been transformed by his own brother.

Zhu Biao also felt that there was someone behind this collusion, but the procuratorate has not yet found out who it was.

However, he guessed that it was probably the people from Jiangnan. At least after the promulgation of the new imperial examination policy, they no longer had a unique advantage, so it was normal for them to want to fight back.

"Did your teacher Song Lian write a letter to advise you about this matter?"

Zhu Biao was stunned.

His master has retired and returned home several months ago, so perhaps he hasn't received the news yet.

What if after receiving the news, Zhu Biao had not yet decided whether to reply to him in a tactful or tough manner?

"We'll talk about it when the time comes. There's no rush."

Zhu Biao also learned something from Wang Buli.

Since the thing hasn't happened yet, there is no need to worry about it in advance.

Drag and drag.

What if things don't turn out the way he expected?

Then it would be a waste of worry.

Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at his son. It seemed that he had made rapid progress in handling state affairs on his own in recent days.

(End of this chapter)