Lin Gao Qiming

Chapter 360 Trip to Foshan (XIV)

"Yes, I think this is a good opportunity for the Jesuits to serve the imperial court. I am also a veteran. I have fought in Europe for more than ten years and have never built or fired artillery. I also know the basic principle of artillery-it can help you. "

"Great, what about the gunsmith? Nobody here knows how to forge a great run."

"The Portuguese won't give you gunsmiths. It's useless to ask the chairman." Ma Yangchun said, "If you want to find someone from Goa, you have to wait until next year."

"What can we do?" Li Luoyou thought to himself that with the help of the Jesuits, it would be easy to hire Portuguese gunsmiths, but he didn't expect to find anyone.His eyes turned to the Englishman.

"Don't look at me." Quarkpoor raised his hands, "The gunsmiths of the East India Company are also in India, how can there be any here?" He took out a pipe, filled it with shredded tobacco, and puffed, "But I Got an idea."

"What's the idea?"

"Borrow cannons!" said Quakeqiong, "Let the Jesuits come forward and borrow a few cannons from the Portuguese to transport them, let the craftsmen measure them on the spot, and then cast them according to the size. I don't think there is anything more exquisite than Chinese craftsmen in the world." , you show them, they can always make it.”

This is a feasible way, but borrowing guns from the Portuguese is a big deal, and you must get the government's permission document, which will definitely require a lot of exercise.Li Luoyou was sure of this, he had already arranged a marriage for his nephew, and the other party was a fan of Wang Zunde's shogunate.There won't be much problem in making and borrowing cannons through his way.

"Borrowing cannons requires the consent of the Macau Municipal Council. The Jesuits cannot order the Macau Municipal Council."

"I don't think it matters. As long as Wang Zunde, the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, issues a warrant, the city council dare not refuse to borrow it."

"However, what gun is more appropriate to borrow?" Although Li Luoyou was very enthusiastic about this matter, he was still a layman after all.

"I think the 12-pound naval gun last time is very suitable." Quakeqiong said, "I heard that the Chinese army killed the king of Tatar with it."

"It's just a barbarian chieftain. What kind of prince!"

"If you just want to blindly defend, this kind of large-caliber cannon is naturally the most suitable. But it can't be used in field battles." Ma Yangchun said, "When the infantry needs fire support, this kind of cannon is too heavy. It must be cast 3 Pound, 6-pound artillery..." He is indeed a veteran who has participated in the war, and he has more experience in the use of artillery than ordinary people.

"Light artillery, the imperial army has plenty..."

"I have seen the cannons used by the Chinese army to support infantry. They are maneuvered with carts. The cannons are too light, and the manufacture is not scientifically standardized. It is not easy to use." Ma Yangchun shook his head. "It is necessary to build a horse-drawn two-wheeled artillery cart, so that it can effectively support the infantry in battle and resist the charge of the cavalry."

Li Luoyou shook his head repeatedly, not because he disagreed with him, but because he knew too much about the situation of the Ming army.Not to mention that there are not so many horses at all, but there are. Aren't soldiers cheaper than horses?A soldier's monthly salary is only one or two taels, and a horse costs tens of taels of silver at least. To equip the artillery battalion like the red-haired men, seven or eight horses are required to serve just one cannon, and no one can afford it.

"Father, the imperial court now has a great demand for heavy artillery. Besides, the imperial court lacks horses."

"Not only is there a shortage of horses, but even horses for pulling carts are unqualified." Ma Yangchun knew that in China, except for the government, the army and a few wealthy people, you can hardly see horses in other places.Moreover, most of the horses here are small in stature-at first he thought that the Chinese were accustomed to handling young horses.It was later discovered that this was not the case.

"Looks like we can only cast heavy cannons." Ma Yangchun thought for a while, "However, the largest Portuguese cannon on the fort in Macau is only an 18-pound cannon..."

"That's about it. It took a lot of effort to transport the 12-pound naval gun during the Tianqi year."

Finally, it was decided to borrow an 18-pound cannon, a 12-pound cannon and a 6-pound cannon from the Macau Municipal Council.The cannon carriage and carriage were also borrowed along with the cannon for imitation.Li Luoyou still had a glimmer of hope - with Xu Guangqi's attainments, shouldn't he fail to see the importance of light artillery?

Li Luoyou took out his abacus, and hastily calculated the various expenses of this transaction, so as to determine the basis for the quotation when he will contract the cannon in the future.

"With the foundry, I will first spread the Gospel to the workers. Then I will spread the Gospel of God through them..." Ma Yangchun returned from being a veteran to being a priest, and said, "I have some good news recently."

"What good news, Father."

"God's flock has expanded. Do you remember Brother Lu Ruohua?"

"Of course, he escorted the cannon into the capital with the Portuguese."

"It's not this one, this is Lu Ruohan." Ma Yangchun shook his head, "I think this is Father Lu Ruohua who went to Qiongzhou to spread the gospel last year."

Li Luoyou vaguely remembered such a person: "John has gained a lot from spreading the gospel?"

"No, not John."

John was the son of Wang Honghui, a famous Catholic in the Ming Dynasty, and his baptismal name was John.Wang Honghui and Xu Guangqi have always been the main hope of the Jesuits in Daming.

Ma Yangchun held the rosary and looked at the sky: "What a miracle! Thank God! The miracle that was supposed to happen in Ding'an City on Hainan Island, but it happened in Lingao City. God's will is really mysterious."

As he spoke, he greatly promoted Lu Ruohua's missionary achievements in Lingao: hundreds of believers were baptized, and churches and monasteries were also established.He tried his best to praise the Australians on the island as a group of devout lambs of God.Spare no effort in the cause of spreading the gospel.

"Lingao? Australian?" Li Luo's expression turned serious.The reputation of Australian products has been overwhelming in Guangdong in the past year.Li Luoyou also heard about the fact that the Australians drove iron boats, landed at Lingao and built a fortress, and used it as a fortress.However, after this group landed in Lingao, they were honest. Apart from sending ships to Guangzhou for trade, selling all kinds of rare goods, and purchasing supplies, they didn't do anything out of the ordinary.

"That's right, it's the Australians who are now in Lingao. I heard that they have built a castle there called Bairen." Because of Lu Ruohua's relationship, Ma Yangchun knew a lot about Lingao's situation.

"They also want to learn the old tricks of the Portuguese." Quaker said, "To be honest, I really want to see this group of strange people."

"I heard that there are also your compatriots among them." Ma Yangchun said with a smile, "Brother Lu said that he has seen a few women who speak English."

"Australians like British women?" Quark Poor laughed. "I really want to go there once. I haven't tasted the taste of female compatriots for a long time."

Ma Yangchun smiled and said, "Maybe they like the British very much." He said, "Father Lu said in his letter that some of them understand many European languages, but almost everyone understands English."

"This is really a strange thing." Quarkpoor's curiosity was aroused, "I can't think of a person from outside England learning English."

In this era, the intellectuals used Latin, and the common people used their own languages. Even French was not spoken in the backcountry of France. There is such a group of people in the East who can speak a few words of English no matter what they do. This kind of strange thing that violates the laws of society is something that everyone can't understand anyway.

"God bless, they are all believers of God, and they have not fallen into heresy..." Ma Yangchun made a cross on his chest, and then looked at Quakqiong sincerely, "Mr. Quark, the gate of God is always for the lost the lamb with its wide open..."

"My lord priest—" Quark knew that he was going to persuade himself to be baptized again, give up the state religion and convert to Catholicism.Belief or not doesn't matter to this Englishman at all, as he said once drunk: If he wants, he can believe in any religion at any time, or he can not believe in it at any time-this Englishman doesn't believe in the existence of gods at all. A complete "no king", "no God" money worshiper, he only believes in golden gold.

"Okay, let's not talk about this issue anymore." Li Luoyou changed the topic, "Australians' things are extremely exquisite, and some seem to be European products, but they are even better. I don't know how their craftsmanship is. How about it? I want to see it too.”

"I also want to see it." Quakeqiong said, "Do business with them directly. Let's take a look at the rumored iron boat. It's just that the Ming court doesn't allow us to go deep into the prefectures and counties. The sea is not peaceful either."

Li Luoyou said, "Mr. Quark, if you want, we can go to Lingao together next month. Use my boat."

"Okay, I'll definitely go." Quark Poor originally wanted to find a new trade opportunity, so he readily accepted it.

The three chatted until late at night before dispersing.Waking up early the next morning, Li Luoyou first brought someone to carry the birthday gift to the Lin family to congratulate him, and reached a tacit agreement with Lin Ming.Ma Yangchun began to give teaching lessons to a few guys in the local semicolon.Li Luoyou felt that it was a good thing for his staff to believe in religion, at least he would have spiritual sustenance so as not to think wildly.

During dinner, Yang Shiyi came to visit. After dinner, the two closed the door and mumbled in the study for a long time before finalizing the deal.Yang Shiyi's mouth was almost crooked—the red ginseng he got from Li Luoyou was 60 taels a catty, and it was 100 taels when it was resold.As for the final sale to customers, the retail price is as high as nearly 200 taels a catty.He sells both retail and wholesale, earning money on both ends.

Because of his appearance, Quark Poong had no choice but to live in a small business.Li Luoyou is very good at dealing with the red-haired businessman, serving him with delicious food and drink every day, and occasionally bringing him a woman to enjoy.In addition to eating, drinking and having fun, his other thing is to choose the style he likes in Europe according to the samples that Shopkeeper Cheng takes from various stores every day.Sometimes, he would draw some patterns and patterns himself and ask for customization.

(End of this chapter)