Saving the Ming Dynasty: I can exchange bodies with Chongzhen

Chapter 16 His Majesty is still the same Majesty we are familiar with!
After entering the Yongwei Camp, Zhu Changgan looked at the environment inside and found it better than he had imagined.

"General Sun, General Huang, how is our military camp configured?

"Your Majesty, the configuration of the Yongwei Camp is here." Sun Yingyuan took out a configuration table and handed it to Wang Chengen, who then handed it to the emperor.

There was a complicated array of various long and short firearms, including red cannon, French cannon, matchlock gun, three-barreled gun, bird gun, etc.

"When I entered just now, I found that you were all practicing horse archery, infantry formations, and rattan shields. Why didn't you practice artillery and muskets?"

"Your Majesty, this..." Sun Yingyuan was speechless and his face flushed.

On the contrary, Huang Degong, nicknamed 'Huang Chuangzi', stood up and said in a gruff voice: "Your Majesty, those firearms look good but are useless."

Ok?
Zhu Changgan frowned, he remembered that firearms had developed to a very prosperous stage in the late Ming Dynasty.

Nurhaci died because he was seriously injured by Yuan Chonghuan's artillery fire. How come Huang Degong said that he was not worthy of being used?
"Tell it like it is."

Sun Yingyuan and Huang Degong's expressions made Zhu Changgan's face suddenly look a little ugly.

Sun Yingyuan stood up and said, "Your Majesty, the cannons are fine, but the bird guns and three-barreled guns will explode nine out of ten times. Many of the Yongwei Battalion members lost their eyes, hands, and lives due to the explosions."

"Is the explosion so serious?" Zhu Changgan stood up and said, "Let me take a look at these muskets."

Seeing that His Majesty insisted on seeing it, Sun Yingyuan could only stamp his feet and open the warehouse.

The scene instantly made Zhu Changgan's face turn purple.

My ribs hurt from being angry.

The room was full of cobwebs, and muskets were scattered on the ground. When they were picked up, they were covered with rust. Many of them had been exploded and split in the middle, like iron objects that had been disemboweled.

When thrown on the ground, it did not make a solid sound, but a popping sound similar to that of rotten iron.

"Using this thing to save the Ming Dynasty? Save a hammer!"

Zhu Changgan knew that the Ming Dynasty was rotten, but he could never have imagined it would be this rotten.

Damn, this hasn't even started yet, and you're making things difficult for yourself?

The atmosphere in the warehouse was gloomy.

No one dared to speak. Wang Chengen opened his mouth several times but finally swallowed his words back.

a long time,

Zhu Changgan took a deep breath and pointed at Sun Yingyuan, "Pick out 400 men from the Yongwei Camp for me, and order me to follow Eunuch Cao."

"These four hundred people must be agile, smart and capable."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

On the one hand, it prevented any accidents from happening to the Jinyiwei so that he would have soldiers available, and on the other hand, it solved the problem of firearms.

firearm,

If one wants to save the Ming Dynasty, firearms are an issue that cannot be avoided.

That was why the first thing he asked when he entered the Yongwei Camp was about the use of firearms.

Only by knowing the situation of firearms can we make targeted improvements, create a generation gap with the Qing Dynasty, and form an asymmetric strategic force.

……

Prince Xiang's Mansion,
When Chongzhen heard what Zhu Changgan said in the Yongwei Camp, he couldn't help but shook his head bitterly and said, "Was it also the idea of ​​the Firearm Camp?"

"I have thought of this method before, but what is the result?..."

Chongzhen had thought about the possible ways for the Ming Dynasty to win the war before.

Chongzhen had two approaches:

One was to innovate tactics, transform the Ming army's firearms, and enhance the army's combat effectiveness.

The second is to raise money to fill the holes in the national treasury, to replenish the salaries of soldiers at the border, and to give money to disaster victims as disaster relief.

Let’s not talk about the first one.
Speaking of the transformation of firearms alone, Chongzhen is really qualified to judge.

In the third year of Chongzhen, two people were used, Xu Guangqi and Sun Yuanhua.

Xu Guangqi was a pioneer in learning foreigners' advanced technology in order to defeat them. During the Tianqi period, he proposed using Western cannons to attack the Jiannu, and using the Portuguese in Macau and their firearms-based mercenaries to help fight.

He arrived in Beijing in January of the third year of Chongzhen.

Later, Xu Guangqi submitted a memorial to Chongzhen, describing a supply system with Western cannons as the core, which eliminated the cold weapons of swords, spears, and rattan shields in the hands of the Ming soldiers and replaced them with a comprehensive firearms battalion such as cannons and bird guns. In Xu Guangqi's thinking, the firearms battalion had a full staff of 4000 people, equipped with 1200 cannons, chariots, and bird guns.

He stated in his memorial that he wanted to deploy 15 such firearms battalions, which meant people, an advanced idea.

At this time, firearms expert Sun Yuanhua emerged in the military camp. The power of the firearms battalion frightened the Later Jin Dynasty, which successively recovered the four cities within the pass and guarded Pi Island.

This group of Portuguese mercenaries and the first trained firearms battalion of more than 7000 people were handed over to him.

As a result, within less than two years, Kong Youde and Geng Zhongming rebelled, and more than 300 artillery pieces and 7000 soldiers from the firearms battalion were all captured.

Sun Yuanhua was executed in Beijing, and Xu Guangqi passed away, which brought this journey to an abrupt end.

What’s even more terrible is that the original asymmetric gap in firearms between the Ming Dynasty and the Later Jin Dynasty was suddenly brought to the same level because of this rebellion.

Because those captured in the Firearms Battalion included technical officers such as the Firearms Battalion Deputy General Wu Jinsheng, Brigadier General Pan Xue, Red Cannon Brigadier General Lu Zhineng, Cheng Yu, and Gunpowder Bureau Brigadier General Jia Zhiqiang.

A large number of drawings were also stolen.

In addition to party disputes, another factor that led to this incident was Yuan Chonghuan.

It was he who killed Mao Wenlong, and Kong Youde and Geng Zhongming were Mao Wenlong's old subordinates, which made them want to defect to the Jian Nu.

To borrow a comment from the Ministry of War on the Later Jin:
"The Jianzhou soldiers formed a battle array. The first layer used boards about five or six inches thick, which were turned like chariots by machines to avoid gunfire. The next layer was composed of archers. The next layer used carts loaded with mud to fill the trenches. The last layer was still composed of cavalry. Both men and horses were heavily armored. When the cannons were fired, they rushed out suddenly. The left and right wings fought desperately. No one could resist them, and the officers and soldiers could not resist."

In short, the Ming army was unable to resist because they formed a battle formation with cavalry and artillery, and both men and horses were wearing heavy armor and charged under the cover of artillery.

It was precisely for this reason that Chongzhen completely gave up the idea of ​​using firearms to defeat the Later Jin.

……

at the same time,

The Minister of Rites Huang Shijun stood guard at the gate of Wen's mansion for several days and finally stopped Wen Tihen.

"Lord, your majesty's actions in the court this time are indeed a bit strange. We have to be on guard!"

Huang Shijun was from Youtan, Shunde, Guangdong. He was the top scorer in the imperial examination at the end of the Wanli period. He was not considered a member of the Donglin Party, but instead had close contacts with Wen Tihen.

In recent years, Wen Tihen has suppressed dissidents, and those who can enter the cabinet are all his people.

Wen Tiren took a sip of tea and said, "Minister Huang, His Majesty has his own plans. Why should we, as ministers, be in such a hurry?"

"Lord Wen, His Majesty's raid on Wang Zhixin's home has obviously been brewing for a long time. If we don't stop His Majesty's aura, I'm afraid His Majesty will take other actions."

"We can't start this...if it continues like this, there will be chaos in the court."

This is what worries him the most.

Wen Tiren smiled and waved his hand, saying, "Your Majesty has indeed been a little abnormal these past two days, but you and I have worked with Your Majesty for so many years, don't we know what kind of person Your Majesty is?"

"It's just paranoia. It will be over in two days."

Huang Shijun was about to speak when Wen Tiren interrupted him, "Minister Huang, why didn't I see your memorial criticizing Qian Qianyi?"

"Uh..." Huang Shijun was stunned.

He actually didn't want to get involved in the dispute between Wen Tihen and the Donglin Party.

But since Wen Tiren asked, he could only bite the bullet and say, "I've already written it, but I came in such a hurry that I forgot to bring it with me."

"Oh, the same will be true when we go to the palace tomorrow to question Qian Qianyi." Wen Tiren said with a smile, "I'm afraid you don't know yet that Qian Qianyi has been arrested and imprisoned, right?"

"Ah? He's already been imprisoned?" Huang Shijun couldn't help but look up suddenly, "What about the Donglin Party..."

"It doesn't matter..."

At this moment, the butler ran in and said, "Master, someone is coming from the palace."

A eunuch came in with a smile, "Lord Wen, His Majesty asked me to give you a message: Since the clues are complete and the evidence is sufficient, the Qian Qianyi case should be thoroughly investigated."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Wen Tiren's eyes were filled with ecstasy when he heard this, and his face showed no surprise or joy.

After the eunuch delivered the oral instructions, the steward took him aside to receive the reward.

The smile on Wen Tiren's face began to turn around, "Minister Huang, how is it?"

"Your Majesty is still the same Majesty we are familiar with!"

"Don't worry too much, just focus all your attention on the important matters at hand!" Wen Tiren pointed to a memorial impeaching Qian Qianyi and said meaningfully.

(End of this chapter)