Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Chapter 183: Talent and Strategy Can Serve the Country

Emperor Jia Zhao seemed to have long been accustomed to Jia Cong's peculiarities. After hearing his words, his expression brightened and his eyes revealed a dreamy look.

"Well said! It is better to teach a man how to fish than to give him a fish. What Chengshilang said is very much in line with my opinion. The method of recruiting talented people from the Western Barbarians and selecting them to teach firearms craftsmen is indeed a feasible way."

Then he asked Jia Cong, "The Ministry of War is currently planning to build a five-army firearms camp. Do you have any suggestions on how to build a firearms camp?"

Jia Cong then briefly elaborated on his thoughts on the organization of the firearms battalion, military regulations, equipment, ammunition, training assessment, and coordination of killing formations.

Marquis Zhongjing Shi Ding, who was standing by, opened his mouth wide.

To others, Jia Cong's strategy for the firearms camp might seem bizarre, strange and complicated.

But during this month, Shi Ding was immersed in practical tasks such as selecting soldiers and training muskets every day.

He had more practical experience in how to set up a firearms battalion than the Minister of War Gu Yankui, and was more deeply touched by Jia Cong's remarks than others.

He had also thought of some of the points in Jia Cong's camp-building strategy.

However, it was far from being as systematic and comprehensive as Jia Cong's. He vaguely realized that the various wonderful strategies that Jia Cong had just described did not seem to be imagined out of thin air, but rather seemed to be the result of deep understanding of practical work and repeated tempering.

But how was this possible? He was just a child who had never even been to a military camp. He probably hadn't even touched a musket a few times. How could he come up with such detailed and appropriate strategies for setting up camps using firearms?

"Your Majesty, I have been focusing on training the musketeers recently. I have gained a lot of experience, but there are also many difficulties. What the official just said is very meaningful and has benefited me a lot."

Shi Ding was a military general, and his mind was not as complicated as that of civil officials. Jia Cong was still his junior, so what he said was not just a polite remark, but a heartfelt word.

Emperor Jia Zhao naturally knew Shi Ding's temperament. The fact that Jia Cong's words were recognized by this veteran general in the army showed that what he just said was indeed pertinent and practical.

Emperor Jia Zhao laughed and said, "I did not expect that this firearms camp strategy, when it came to the mouth of the official, could produce such complicated and meticulous routines, which is refreshing.

It seems that I have found the right person to come to consult you today."

Jia Cong continued, "Yesterday, I received the emperor's oral order to come to the palace to make a report, so I wrote my humble opinion on the establishment of firearms into a memorial overnight. What I just said is included in it. Please read it, Your Majesty."

Emperor Jiazhao's eyes lit up. The imperial edict was conveyed in the palace yesterday near sunset. Despite the short time, he had already made such thorough preparations for the memorial.

Although he is so young, he is so experienced and diligent in handling matters. He really has the demeanor of a capable and competent official.

Guo Lin, who was standing by, took Jia Cong's memorial and presented it to Emperor Jiazhao.

The first thing that catches the eye is the elegant calligraphy, followed by the densely packed and clearly detailed descriptions of the various strategies.

Sure enough, everything he had just said in the memorial was included, and the narration and explanation were even more detailed and meticulous.

The memorial also mentioned the establishment of a special firearms supervisory office, which would be responsible for recruiting Western technicians, training firearms craftsmen, and developing and improving firearms.

Emperor Jiazhao was well versed in government affairs and had read countless memorials of various types. The memorials written by various civil servants were all in parallel and elegant style with beautiful language, but only about 30% or 40% of them were meaningful.

This annoyed the extremely pragmatic Emperor Jiazhao, and there were also complaints from both the court and the public, all saying that the current emperor had some literary flaws.

Therefore, Jia Cong's memorial, which was logically rigorous, without any embellishment, and extremely practical, could be said to be very much to the liking of Emperor Jia Zhao.

The content includes detailed discussions on establishing a company, educating people, making weapons, building an army, training soldiers, and logistics, etc. It is simply a model article on building an army with firearms.

Even a man with profound insights into political affairs like Emperor Jiazhao felt deeply moved when he saw this.

But at the end of the memorial, there were several drawings of muskets with detailed text on them.

Then he asked, "Chengshilang, what do these pictures mean?"

“Your Majesty, when I was in Nanjing, I led the Ning Wang musket team to encircle and suppress the Japanese wanderers. I watched the firing process of the Rumi gun up close and found that it had some shortcomings.

If the barrel can be lengthened, the gun body heavier, and the barrel steel refined, the range and accuracy of the musket can be improved. In addition, steel spikes can be added to the gun body so that it can be used for close combat.

However, this is just my deduction, and its effectiveness can only be confirmed after it is implemented by firearms craftsmen. "

The original firearms camp strategy was meticulous and thought-provoking, which was enough to shock and amaze Emperor Jiazhao, Shi Ding, Gu Yankui and others. Unexpectedly, Jia Cong even mentioned the study of improving the firearms in his memorial, with detailed images and operation descriptions.

This was not something he came up with hastily overnight after receiving an oral order from the palace. Instead, he had already figured it out when he participated in the actual combat of the Rumi gun in Nanjing, which shows how serious his intentions were.

At this time, the Minister of War Gu Yankui suddenly said: "Your Majesty, Chengshilang is proficient in the art of firearms and is a rare and capable talent. I ask Your Majesty to grant your permission to allow Chengshilang to join the Ministry of War to observe government affairs."

When these words were spoken, Emperor Jiazhao and Shi Ding were both shocked. Shi Ding felt even more regretful that he was actually one step ahead of them by this old man Gu.

In fact, he had already been interested when he heard Jia Cong talk about the method of building camps and training soldiers.

What Gu Yankui said about observing politics has always been applied only to Jinshi.

After a candidate passed the imperial examination and before being appointed to an official position, the Great Zhou would send him to various government offices to gain experience and gain knowledge, so that he or she could better perform his or her duties after being appointed.

But Jia Cong was just a scholar and according to convention he had no qualifications to observe government affairs.

But since there are chosen talents in this world, there can naturally be exceptions.

Jia Cong first proposed the three-stage attack method, and now he has written such a complete strategy for setting up camps with firearms, which is enough to prove that he has special talents in this area.

Therefore, it was not surprising for Gu Yankui to suggest that he join the Ministry of War to observe government affairs.

At this time, Zhongjing Hou Shi Ding also said: "Your Majesty, what Chengshilang said just now shows that he has the talent to lead the army and is also the descendant of a military general of Rongguo.

I request that Your Majesty allow me to join the Fifth Army Camp and help me manage the Firearms Camp. Within a few years, I will definitely train a wise general for Your Majesty."

When Gu Yankui heard this, his already graying eyebrows raised and he said, "Marquis Zhongjing is wrong. Everyone knows that Jia Chengshilang took the imperial examination and is a famous talent in the south of the Yangtze River.
Entering the government to govern is the right path. How can I follow you into the military camp and become a soldier? That is disgraceful!"

Emperor Jiazhao, who was sitting behind the imperial desk, was somewhat surprised to see the two ministers fighting over someone right in front of him.

However, considering Jia Cong's knowledge in firearms coordination and military building strategies, it is not surprising that Gu Yankui and Shi Ding have such ideas.

Shi Ding, the Marquis of Zhongjing, was about to explain, but he heard Jia Cong say, "Your Majesty, I am very grateful for your care, but I am young and ignorant, and I am still in the age of studying.

I want to concentrate on studying the classics and wait for the autumn examination. If the two gentlemen have any special tasks to do, I will do my duty."

For Jia Cong, he is currently only a scholar. Entering the official career too early will delay his further studies, which is not a good thing in the long run.

According to the opinion of his master Liu Jing'an, he would not recommend that he get involved in court disputes too early, so as to avoid an unstable foundation, being coerced and coveted by others, and prematurely breaking new branches, leading to unexpected events.

Moreover, considering his age, at this time, he is still waiting for the two ministers to quarrel, watching the tiger and waiting to become an official. It is ugly and a bit scary.

Whether in public or in private, the right thing to do is to refuse.

Emperor Jia Zhao thought for a moment and said, "It is natural for Cheng Shilang to want to study, and he has not yet achieved academic success. Let's discuss this matter for the time being."

However, Gu Yankui and Shi Ding were both close ministers of Emperor Jiazhao, and had some understanding of the emperor's temperament. They had both heard that the emperor was somewhat tempted by their proposal.

However, Jia Cong was too young, and his status as a scholar combined with the honors of a Jinshi would probably cause criticism from both the court and the public.

They had just submitted a petition to appoint Jia Cong as the administrative director of the Political Consultative Conference, and they did hope to make use of his expertise in firearms.

But a thirteen-year-old boy could be given such an important position. Given the strictness and meticulousness of Emperor Jiazhao and the regulations on officials in the imperial dynasty, they all knew that the request would most likely be rejected.

However, with such advice in advance, it became natural to borrow Jia Cong's ability afterwards, whether it was to discuss strategies of the Ministry of War or to consult on matters of the Firearms Battalion.

This is the real intention of these old-timers in officialdom. Obviously, Emperor Jiazhao also knows the trick, but for the sake of state affairs, he does not point it out.

Emperor Jia Zhao suddenly changed the subject and asked Jia Cong, "Yesterday, the eunuch reported back that you are now not allowed to enter the Rongguo Mansion and are staying in an inn?"

Gu Yankui and Shi Ding, who were standing by, looked over at the same time. They felt a little strange when they heard the emperor suddenly ask about a topic unrelated to the memorial.

It's hard to get into the mansion, so he has to stay in an inn. It sounds like this young man was kicked out of his home.

(End of this chapter)