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

"Oh?"

Not only was Zhu Yuanzhang a little curious, but even Zhan Hui's appetite was whetted by Zhu Xiongying.

Zhu Xiongying said: "First of all, the production method needs to be improved."

The old man, Zhan Hui, and the officials from the Firearms Bureau behind him were all listening attentively.

No one took the young man's words seriously.

Zhu Xiongying continued: "For example, I just saw the craftsmen producing firearms. There were old and new craftsmen, and their skills were uneven."

"Some old craftsmen are familiar with it, so they make good firearms. Some are new to it, so they make bad ones."

"This thing is very powerful. If it's poorly made, it should explode easily, right?"

After these words were spoken, the eyes of some officials in the Ministry of Works gradually dimmed.

There was also a hint of loneliness in the eyes of the old man and Zhan Hui.

The old man was silent for a moment, then sighed and said, "There have been explosions, and every time the barrel exploded, it was our brothers from the Han family who died or were injured... It's so hateful!"

The old man and Zhan Hui both had red eyes.

They all came from the battlefield and knew what every explosion of a firearm meant.

It meant that two brothers would be seriously injured or even die on the spot.

This was not enough. Every time the barrel exploded, more soldiers would be afraid of the musket and would not dare to touch it.

It's such a good thing, but there are very few soldiers who want to use it!

Zhu Xiongying nodded: "Actually, this problem is not unsolvable."

Swish!
Countless pairs of eyes suddenly stared at Zhu Xiongying greedily.

However, Zhu Xiongying did not notice that he was touching the musket and the tiger squat cannon out of boredom.

Zhu Xiongying continued: "In fact, we can just change the process. It's not that complicated. Isn't the assembly line in the pre-Qin period a good example? Why not use assembly line?"

After waiting for a while, no one answered, and Zhu Huai turned back curiously.

But he saw a group of people, all of whom were staring at him quietly.

There seemed to be a strong desire for knowledge in his eyes.

"Ah? What happened to you guys?"

Zhu Yuanzhang stared at Zhu Xiongying in amazement: "Grandson, you mean running water...what?"

Assembly line production seems to have existed since the Qin Dynasty, right? I remember seeing pictures in my previous life. The powerful crossbows of the Qin Dynasty dominated the world. Those crossbows were complicated to make. A Qin crossbow often had dozens of parts and hundreds of processes. The practice at that time was to use assembly lines. Each craftsman was only responsible for making one part, and all the parts were finally assembled, which was very fast and efficient.

Why did the Qin Dynasty have things that we don't have in the Ming Dynasty?
They looked at each other in shock.

"Assembly line production... that is, each craftsman is only responsible for making one part or one process, and finally all the parts and processes are assembled together. For example, you are responsible for the wooden support of the musket, and you are responsible for smelting the steel mouth... In this way, making a musket can save at least half of the time, instead of every craftsman having to handle all the parts and processes like now... You, you really haven't heard of the assembly line?"

Zhu Yuanzhang smacked his lips and seemed to quickly understand the implication of Zhu Xiongying's words.

Each craftsman is responsible for a specific process, and then they are assembled together at the end. This seems to save time and effort, and the manufacturing precision is also higher. The master craftsman can teach the new apprentice a special craft...hiss!

The more the old man understood, the more he felt that this method was feasible!
He glanced at Zhan Hui indifferently, but found that Zhan Hui's eyes had become even hotter. Obviously, Zhan Butang also understood the implication of Zhu Xiongying's words!
Not to mention the officials from the Ministry of Works behind them, each of them had an extremely fiery look in their eyes.

They are experts in this field, and they were shocked as soon as Zhu Xiongying mentioned assembly line production.

"Why do you all have these expressions? Have you never heard of assembly line production?"

The officials of the Firearms Bureau shook their heads excitedly, then saluted Zhu Xiongying with their fists clasped together, looking extremely respectful: "Young Master, you are so talented!"

Zhu Xiongying: "..."

It is undeniable that the assembly line is an absolutely advanced production method!

More than a thousand years later, this method became the main mode of industrial production and was used by factories all over the world.

At that time, the Chinese people were amazed and thought that foreigners were so smart that they could come up with such a production method that saved time, labor and money.

Little did we know that these things are just leftovers from our ancestors. Long before Qin Shi Huang unified the six kingdoms, the Qin army's powerful crossbows, swords, siege equipment, etc. were all produced on assembly lines.

The assembly line has an even greater advantage. They are all assembled from parts, and each part is exactly the same. If a crossbow, sword or other weapon breaks down, there is no need to find a craftsman to repair it. You can just replace it with a new part and continue to use it.

Over thousands of years of history, the most recorded things are changes of dynasties and killings, and the most left behind are regrets and sorrows.

When Zhu Xiongying saw a group of craftsmen from the Firearms Bureau saluting him, he did not dare to be arrogant.

"Please don't be polite, I'm just saying it casually."

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and said: "Don't be polite, they are giving you a salute, which means you are right and well said! This is what you deserve!"

Zhan Hui followed with a smile and said, "Yes, yes! Mr. Zhu's casual words will bring about earth-shaking changes to the production of firearms in our Ming Dynasty!"

Zhu Xiongying shook his head: "This is nothing. At most, it will only stabilize the production of firearms."

After finishing speaking, Zhu Xiongying walked up to Zhu Yuanzhang and said somewhat disappointedly: "Grandpa, these muskets are too expensive. The craftsmen spared no expense in making them."

"But why don't you think about how to improve it? We have so many talented people in the Ming Dynasty's Ministry of Industry, why don't you think about improving the firearms?"

"For example, the firing time of a musket is extremely long and the accuracy is not accurate. If a spring trigger is added to the buttstock, the friction between the metal and the flint can be used to generate sparks, which can ignite the gunpowder and thus complete the ignition of the gunpowder..."

Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned and asked in confusion: "What? What does it mean?"

Even though he was the emperor, the supreme ruler, there were things he didn't understand.

Every profession has its own expertise. Naturally, Zhu Yuanzhang did not understand what Zhu Xiongying said about the principles of the flintlock rifle.

He looked at Zhan Hui, only to see that Zhan Hui also had a starry expression on his face.

However, the craftsmen from the Ministry of Industry at the back seemed to be thinking about something.

After a long time, a craftsman asked Zhu Xiongying: "Sir, can the sparks from the flint really ignite the black powder?"

Zhu Xiongying said: "It should be possible. This requires you to experiment, and experiment continuously. I am not very clear about the specific process, so I can only give a rough idea."

The craftsman seemed to be thinking about something, but he murmured, "It's possible, it's possible!"

From the initial confusion, to the gradual clarity, to the final expression of a face distorted with excitement, after he figured it out, he was so excited that he wanted to run back.

Zhan Hui held him back and asked, "What are you going to do?"

The craftsman said excitedly: "Master Zhan! Great! Perhaps the firearms of our Ming Dynasty can really enter a great new stage!"

Ah?
Zhan Hui was also stunned.

He looked at Zhu Xiongying with some disbelief.

Just a few words can make the firearms of our Ming Dynasty enter a new stage? Isn't this a bit too mysterious?
Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at Zhu Xiongying and said in disbelief: "We asked you to give us some pointers, and you really gave us some pointers?"

Zhu Xiongying smiled shyly: "That's all nonsense. It still depends on the craftsmen who try day and night. They are the ones who are truly great."

These words made the officials of the Ministry of Works burst into tears of gratitude, and their eyes were red.

They are the least noticed group of people. Although they have a very high status, they can only travel at night in fine clothes.

No one knows the contributions they have made to the country. Due to the confidentiality of their work, no one knows how difficult it is to make each of these firearms!
From the collection of materials to smelting and casting, to the various components, gunpowder and other items, every single thing of a gun barrel must be carefully prepared!

They have paid a lot of hard work, but no one pays attention to them!

Now, hearing Zhu Xiongying's words of empathy, they all became jealous unconsciously.

"Young Master Xian!"

The group of people saluted Zhu Xiongying respectfully again. This time, their belief in Zhu Xiongying came from the bottom of their hearts.

Zhan Hui took a deep look at Zhu Xiongying and admired him from the bottom of his heart.

The people in the old man’s family are indeed extraordinary!

The emperor's grandson is really getting more and more outstanding. He can mobilize the emotions of these people with just a few words. Isn't this the personal charm that a qualified superior should have?
Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and said to Zhu Xiongying: "You've been watching for a while, are you tired? Let's go to the Firearms Bureau to have a simple meal and drink some tea!"

Zhu Xiongying smiled and said, "Okay!"

The central hall of the Firearms Bureau is very clean.

Zhu Xiongying helped Zhu Yuanzhang walk over and reminded him: "Old man, be careful of the steps."

Zhu Yuanzhang chuckled and said, "I am not old and blind yet, so there is no need to remind me. You are making me look like a waste."

Zhan Hui smiled at the back: "The old man is not old at all. Besides, Master Zhu is just being filial. How could he really think that you are old and blind?"

If he didn't take this opportunity to flatter the emperor, Zhan Hui would feel that he would be wasting his chance to be alone with the emperor!
Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and said: "That makes sense, but it's also bullshit!"

"If our eldest grandson is not filial, who will be filial?"

Zhan Hui smiled awkwardly. Instead of being unhappy about being scolded by the old man, he was even more pleased because he felt that the distance between him and the old man had become closer.

Zhu Xiongying and Zhu Yuanzhang were sitting on the armchairs in the central hall of the Firearms Bureau.

The old man seemed to remember something, and whispered to Zhan Hui: "Go and call the centurion who is escorting the ironwood from Jiaozhi, and also bring the letter that Mr. Jie sent to our grandson."

Zhan Hui nodded and went out.

Zhu Xiongying looked at Zhu Yuanzhang in confusion and asked, "Old man, what did you say to Lord Zhan?"

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and said: "Let him do us a favor."

"What are you doing?"

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and said, "You'll know in a moment."

In the side yard of the Firearms Bureau.

Several soldiers who were in charge of escorting the oak and ironwood were chatting about family matters out of boredom.

"Ahem, Captain Ning, what's wrong with us brothers?" a soldier asked the captain.

The Captain Ning was also quite puzzled because when they set out from Jiaozhi, Old Ma caught a cold.

After Ningbo Wei was released for medical treatment, Captain Ning didn't feel anything was wrong.

But now, when they arrived at Yingtian with the timber and went to the Firearms Bureau, the brothers all felt exhausted and several of them started coughing slightly.

"Could it be some kind of plague?" another soldier asked in horror.

Captain Ning shouted coldly: "Bullshit! At most, we all caught some colds. What kind of plague is this? Can a plague spread so slowly? How come nothing happened to me after staying with you guys for so long?"

"Ahem... Is that all I have to say? Aren't you afraid of infecting some noble person?"

"Captain Ning, when is the right time for us to take over? Your body is hot and cold, so why don't you find a military doctor to prescribe some medicine for us brothers?"

Captain Ning said unhappily, "I know, I know! I will discuss this with the Director of the Firearms Bureau after he has stamped the seal."

"Hey! Thank you, Captain Ning."

While a group of people were talking, a supervisor from the Firearms Bureau came over.

"Ning Jili, is Captain Ning here?"

Ning Jili quickly responded: "I'm here!"

"Let's go, someone is looking for you."

Ning Jili nodded: "Okay!" As he spoke, he suddenly shivered, and his body began to feel cold for no reason.

It's strange... It's just a little rain, so it shouldn't... Hiss!

cough cough.

Ning Jili, Captain Ning, coughed twice and suddenly had a bad feeling in his heart.

……

There was a drizzle outside the warehouse.

Zhu Xiongying and the old man sat in the central hall of the warehouse sipping tea.

Zhan Hui has been gone for a long time and has not come back yet.

It takes a long mountain road to get from the Firearms Bureau to the Warehouse. Because of the heavy spring rain, the mountain road becomes particularly difficult to walk on.

Before Zhan Hui returned, several minor officials came up with plates of food and placed them respectfully on the table.

Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at the officials of the Firearms Bureau and said unhappily, "We only have a few of us. If we serve so many dishes and cannot finish them, isn't it a waste?"

Several officials from the Firearms Administration nodded hastily: "Yes, yes."

After that, they asked Zhu Xiongying: "Sir, do you think these dishes are enough? If not, we can serve more."

After hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang's face turned red with embarrassment!
These bastards just said "yes, yes" to me so perfunctorily, it turns out they didn't take my words to heart at all!
The old man was a little angry, but soon the anger in his heart subsided.

There was no way, these minor officials did not recognize him as Zhu Yuanzhang, the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty.

Seeing these officials sincerely convinced of Zhu Xiongying, Zhu Yuanzhang smacked his lips with some jealousy.

This brat's recent remarks should have won the respect of the officials at the Firearms Administration.

No wonder these officials are so flattering to Zhu Xiongying.

Seeing his eldest grandson so majestic, Zhu Yuanzhang's remaining anger disappeared completely.

Zhu Xiongying saw the old man sometimes angry and sometimes laughing, and he probably knew what the old man was thinking.

The old man is used to being domineering and now that he suddenly sees that the officials from the Firearms Bureau don't listen to him, he must be very angry.

Zhu Xiongying smiled and said to several officials from the Firearms Administration: "That's enough, that's enough, no need to go any further. It's just my grandfather and grandson, and at most there's Lord Zhan. We can't eat that much."

(End of this chapter)