Ming Dynasty: A hundred-year-old immortal cultivator, Zhu Yuanzhang’s biological father

"Brother, Fifth Sister, are we really too cautious? Maybe the old man has no intention of doing anything to us at all, and we are just scaring ourselves." The two brothers still refused to give up.

"If we give up all the power, what's the difference between us and trash in the Ming Dynasty?" A poor person is ignored in a busy city, but a rich person has distant relatives in a remote mountain area.

They all understand these principles.

Who will be nice to a toothless Prince Zhongshan's Palace in the future? Who will be afraid of the Prince Zhongshan's Palace?
They knew what attitude those officials, who were so submissive in the past, would have when they saw the Xu family again.

Xu Huizu looked at Xu Yingxu and Xu Zengshou indifferently and said unhappily: "Yes! We can continue to be so powerful for a long time."

Xu Yingxu and Xu Zengshou were delighted: "Brother? What do you mean?"

Xu Huizu said: "Today I told Laozi that we had correspondence with Beiping, but he said nothing. Why? Because he knew everything!"

"How did you know? Jinyiwei should investigate again!"

Xu Huizu's light words made Xu Yingxu and Xu Zengshou tremble unconsciously.

"What did the old man mean by what he asked Zhan Hui to say just now? For the sake of our father, he didn't bother with us younger generations so much, but the meaning behind his words is very clear. Being a peaceful and stable lord is better than anything else. What powerful officials do you still want to contact? Go if you have the ability!"

"If it weren't for Mr. Zhu's face today, who can say for sure whether the old man would let the Xu family go? Do you know that my heart was about to jump out of my chest? Life and death depended on the old man's thoughts! This is very interesting, isn't it? Next time, you two bastards go meet the old man!"

Xu Yingxu and Xu Zengshou seemed to sense the danger Xu Huizu was in at the time, and they shrank their heads unconsciously, muttering in a low voice: "Brother, I'm...I'm sorry."

Xu Miaojin frowned and looked at Xu Huizu in a daze: "Brother, why do you do this for Mr. Zhu's sake?"

"Is this matter related to Master Zhu?"

amount.

Xu Huizu looked a little unnatural, and evaded the question by saying, "Mr. Zhu... also helped a little."

Xu Miaojin asked suspiciously: "What help? How did you help?"

Xu Huizu said: "It's nothing, it's done, it's getting late, let's go to bed."

After Xu Huizu finished speaking, he walked away with his hands behind his back, feeling inexplicably relaxed.

Xu Miaojin stopped Xu Yingxu and Xu Zengshou and said, "Second brother, fourth brother, are you and eldest brother still hiding something from me? What happened to Master Zhu?"

"Ah?"

Xu Yingxu and Xu Zengshou stuttered, "Mr. Zhu, what's wrong?"

"I'm asking you!"

Xu Miaojin said: "Just now, my elder brother said that Master Zhu was involved with the emperor. You also told me before that Master Zhu had a noble person to help him."

"What on earth does that mean?"

Xu Yingxu and Xu Zengshou frowned and said, "Did we say that? Master Zhu certainly has a noble person to help him. Isn't it the Huaixi nobleman behind him?"

"Uh, Fifth Sister, stop imagining things."

Xu Zengshou said: "Yes, yes, now we have no power and influence, and we will not participate in any struggles. Fifth sister, you can do whatever you want, and we will not stop you, and we will not look down on anyone."

"Um?"

Xu Miaojin frowned and looked at the two brothers.

Xu Yingxu said dejectedly: "Fifth sister, you are right. Without the halo of status, I am not as good as Mr. Zhu... Well, even with the halo of status, I will be beaten by others... Fifth sister, do whatever you want, we brothers support you."

The two brothers seemed a little regretful and left in a hurry after they finished speaking.

Xu Miaojin stood there in a daze, her brows tightly knitted together.

She always felt that these three brothers seemed to be hiding something from her, and it was about Master Zhu!
Don’t listen to the night rain in March, now is not the time to hurry up the flowers to bloom.

It rained at night, and in the morning the courtyard was covered with fallen leaves and flowers.

Zhu Xiongying got up early.

As we entered March this year, the air was fresh and fishy, ​​and there were still raindrops floating in the sky.

The rain is not heavy, and people can enjoy a bath in it.

Zhu Xiongying likes the spring rain and likes to be bathed in the spring rain. It is a kind of melancholy enjoyment that belongs to him alone.

"Okay, let's not bother getting tea, let's go directly to the Firearms Bureau of the Ministry of Industry to have tea."

The old man came early in the morning. After the grandfather and grandson had breakfast early, the old man couldn't wait to take Zhu Xiongying to the Firearms Bureau of the Ministry of Industry.

Zhu Xiongying asked in confusion: "Ah? Are you going now? Did grandma approve?"

The old man nodded and said in a somewhat arrogant tone: "What's the matter? Isn't it just a matter of a word from us? Besides, who are you? If you want to go to the Firearms Bureau, isn't it just a matter of a word?"

Zhu Xiongying touched his chin and said, "Grandpa, are you really that awesome?"

Zhu Yuanzhang sneered and said, "In front of me, you are just the Monkey King, and I am the Tathagata Buddha you mentioned. But in front of others, you are just the Monkey King who made trouble in the Heavenly Palace. No matter how much trouble you make, others have to endure it!"

The old man loves to listen to "Journey to the West" and also puts it into practice.

Zhu Xiongying smiled and seeing the old man's smug look, he knew that the old man was starting to brag about him again.

Old people like to brag, brag about the past, brag about the present, and brag about the future. But they also like to brag to their own children and grandchildren. In fact, their purpose is nothing more than to establish their reputation as knowledgeable and wise among the younger generations.

When I was a child, I always felt that old people knew everything. When I grew up and looked at my father and grandfather, I would complain about why they didn’t know this or that.

Human nature dictates.

When children are young, their fathers and grandfathers are their heroes. When they grow up, they become the elders’ support.

The Han rules have remained unchanged for thousands of years. In the final analysis, they just want the younger generations to not forget their roots, to respect their elders more, and not to despise them for not keeping up with the times.

The grandfather and grandson were walking on Yingtian Street. Zhu Xiongying held an umbrella for the old man, but exposed his own body.

He found the old man's cute and smug look funny for no reason.

"By the way, how is the Xu family?" Zhu Xiongying asked.

The old man said: "Oh, we agreed to Xu Huizu's request. But we didn't strip the Xu family of their titles, and we continued to let them be the Duke of Taiping."

Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at Zhu Xiongying and asked, "You know Xu Huizu, why did you come to me to ask for mercy?"

Zhu Xiongying did not hide it and said, "The death of Wen Yuzhang and Zheng Yong should have made the Xu family feel the crisis, right? Grandpa, tell me the truth, your setting up of Zheng Yong, is your ultimate goal in the Zhongshan Palace?"

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded: "Yes."

Zhu Xiongying continued: "What are you planning?"

Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter: "I don't know!"

Zhu Xiongying: "..."

The old man waved his hand and said, "Come on, let's not talk about this anymore. The palace is very secretive. When it's time for you to know, I'll tell you everything."

Zhu Xiongying said "oh".

The old man frowned and said, "Why don't you hold an umbrella?"

Zhu Xiongying said: "It's not raining heavily, I like the drizzle."

"Hypocritical!"

Zhu Yuanzhang looked disdainful, as if remembering something, and said to Zhu Huai with his hands dancing: "Boy, you haven't seen the firearms of our Ming Dynasty, right?"

Zhu Xiongying nodded: "Yes! I haven't seen it yet."

Zhu Yuanzhang narrowed his eyes and smiled, saying: "I'll show you what firearms are in a moment! See what we relied on to destroy wave after wave of remnants of the Northern Yuan Dynasty!"

"Although the Timurids brag so much, our Ming Dynasty's firearms are not as bad as they say!"

"Back then, Mu Ying designed a three-stage shooting method. When shooting, the bullets whistled in all directions, continuously, and the momentum was terrifying."

"We remember that when we were fighting Henan, this thing was almost invincible!"

Zhu Yuanzhang looked somewhat proud.

Zhu Xiongying was also a little curious and had imagined the Ming Dynasty's muskets in his mind.

Zhu Xiongying smiled and said, "I'm going to open my eyes now."

The Ministry of Works is located in the Imperial City.

But the Firearms Bureau was not there. The old man took Zhu Xiongying for a long walk until they reached the outskirts of the city near the back gate of the imperial palace in the south.

There are endless woods ahead.

Zhu Xiongying was a little curious.

The old man smiled and said, "The Firearms Bureau is a secret of the Ming Dynasty. The government office has always been mysterious. Only a few people know about this government office."

Zhu Xiongying nodded.

The muddy road in the rainforest was difficult to walk on, and soon Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Xiongying's shoes were covered with mud.

Another half incense stick of time will pass.

The interior of the jungle suddenly opened up.

In front of us are rows of houses.

"There are people living deep in the jungle."

Zhu Xiongying said this inwardly, and then watched from afar as someone was waiting in front of the Firearms Bureau.

"Master Zhan?"

Zhu Xiongying walked forward and greeted him.

Zhan Hui smiled and said, "Your Highness, you are so lucky. Not many people can come to visit this firearms bureau!"

As he said this, he glanced at Zhu Yuanzhang calmly.

Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Okay, let's go in."

The Firearms Bureau is the core of the Ming Dynasty.

Although it was under the Ministry of Works, it was directly under the jurisdiction of the Minister of Works, and the Minister of Works was only responsible to the emperor.

It can be said that the Firearms Bureau was the only two bureaus under vertical management by the emperor, besides the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

This is enough to show the importance of this government office.

Apart from Zhu Yuanzhang, the only people who could come here to inspect in the Ming Dynasty were probably Zhu Xiongying, Zhu Biao and Empress Ma!

Zhan Hui knew it very well and knew what the old man's purpose was.

This is to let Zhu Xiongying seize the time to take control of all the core departments of the Ming Dynasty!
When Zhan Huixun saw this, he couldn't help but feel secretly happy.

The Firearms Bureau is large and spacious.

Several minor officials in green robes came out and followed Zhan Hui cautiously.

They didn't know who Zhu Xiongying and Zhu Yuanzhang were, but since they could get Lord Zhan to lead the way, they must be of prominent background.

Therefore, these minor officials from the Firearms Bureau became more cautious in their hospitality and introductions.

Zhu Yuanzhang glanced around and said impatiently: "Don't play tricks, get straight to the point and go take a look at the muskets and cannons."

Several green-robed minor officials glanced at Zhan Hui, who angrily said, "Do whatever you are told to do, lead the way!"

Winding paths lead to seclusion.

From the Firearms Bureau to the courtyard where muskets were produced, you have to walk about a mile along a forest path.

Zhu Xiongying could feel that there must be ambushes everywhere in this jungle.

After walking for a while, we finally arrived at the arms depot.

Compared to the Firearms Bureau, this place seems more spacious.

The door was pushed open and Zhu Xiongying was stunned!

The courtyard is filled with various muskets and tiger-crouching cannons, which looks spectacular!

Zhu Yuanzhang stood with his hands behind his back, and seeing Zhu Xiongying's stunned look, he was very satisfied.

"How is it? Is it okay? Do you feel the power of our country?"

Zhu Xiongying was indeed a little shocked because he had never seen a real firearm before.

But although he was shocked, there was a hint of worry in the depths of his eyes for no reason.

Zhu Xiongying asked tentatively: "Can I go and try?"

Zhu Yuanzhang laughed and said, "Why not?"

"go!"

The old man pulled Zhu Xiongying to the firearm.

Zhu Xiongying looked at it carefully and now understood why the muskets in the early Ming Dynasty were not called muskets but fire guns.

The guns in front of Zhu Xiongying were mostly long-barreled muskets, which were the most basic prototypes of muskets. They had a wooden handle at the back and a firing barrel at the front. They had no trigger and were fired by igniting gunpowder. The projectiles fired were also different. Some were lead bullets, while others were filled with iron and stone.

Because of the insufficient impact force and the poor sealing of the musket, the power of the musket was greatly weakened. Not only was the shooting distance short, but the power was also greatly reduced.

This thing is a deadly weapon when fighting in a group, but a bow and arrow is more useful when fighting alone.

Moreover, the cost was too high. The equipment of the Beijing Camp was the best in the world. The weapons used by the soldiers were all made by craftsmen at all costs.

Although he was disappointed, Zhu Xiongying never denied the wisdom of the ancients. From the perspective of later generations, the musket did have many flaws.

But if it were placed in this era when firearms are just emerging, this number of muskets, combined with three-stage shooting, would be enough to be a nightmare for all cavalrymen!

"Grandson, what are you thinking of? Give it a try?"

Zhu Yuanzhang leaned over and asked Zhu Xiongying.

Zhu Xiongying nodded: "Okay!"

Zhan Hui waved.

Someone immediately set up a target ten steps away.

Zhu Xiongying picked up the musket.

Someone nearby had already filled the gunpowder for him and then compacted the lead bullet.

This is how to load a musket, and it is very time-consuming.

"ignition."

After Zhu Xiongying finished speaking, a minor official set fire to him.

Zhu Xiongying dragged the wooden support, and soon he heard a hissing sound and white smoke came out of the barrel.

With a bang, the huge impact force almost made Zhu Huai's arms unable to hold still.

There are too many constraints!
The old man was smiling happily.

"Tsk! Good fellow! No matter how many troops are in front of him, this thing can destroy him!"

Zhu Xiongying smiled bitterly and looked forward, only to see that the target was intact.

It was only ten steps away, but he couldn't even hit it.

Zhu Yuanzhang did not see the joy he had imagined in Zhu Xiongying's eyes.

The old man couldn't help but be curious: "What's wrong? Isn't this musket powerful enough?"

"There's also a tiger squat cannon!"

Zhu Yuanzhang pointed at the tiger squatting cannon beside him.

In fact, it is only a few sizes larger than a musket, and its principle is the same as that of a musket. The tiger squat cannon is the prototype of the later mortar, and its combat power is not as great as imagined.

Zhu Xiongying shook his head: "It has a large recoil and poor accuracy. It is suitable for defending the city and blocking the enemy in close combat, but it is a bit unreliable at long distances."

Hearing Zhu Xiongying's comments, the old man's enthusiasm was instantly extinguished.

Seeing that the old man was a little unhappy, Zhu Xiongying smiled and said, "It's not that our Ming Dynasty's firearms are not good. Looking at the current situation, our Ming Dynasty's firearms are already very few, but I think there is still more room for development."

(End of this chapter)