[Red Mansions] The Road to Empress Dowager

Fire/guns and artillery were not uncommon in the Ming Dynasty.In the official history, the foreign wars in the middle and late Ming Dynasty also had more victories than defeats, and the death of the Ming Dynasty was not a crime of war.Let’s look at Chongzhen’s self-destruction in Meishan, and the hundreds of thousands of soldiers and horses in the world have no one to serve the king. Half of the country in the Qing Dynasty was defeated by the cavalry of San Francisco and Guanning.It has been natural disasters for years, the Jinshen and the Guanning Group have controlled the power, corrupted the country with evil intentions, sucked up the vitality of the country, and the internal mechanism has no power.

In the official history, Wu Sangui did not let the Qing soldiers enter the customs. How much will Shanhaiguan consume after Jinbatulu? Fire/weapons have always been tabooed by the Qing Dynasty. The minority regimes are worried that the Han people will continue to master this sharp weapon. It is forbidden to study fire/weapons and brag about Jurchen riding and shooting.

In the 20 years of the Qianyuan Dynasty, steelmaking and fire/arms were developed, which naturally achieved considerable development. For example, the arsenal in Sichuan has already used hydraulic power to pull the rifling.Sichuan has many waterways and has inherent advantages in this regard.Most of the essence of the military industry was transferred to Sichuan, and Tu Yuanyi also had little-known thoughts.But I think the northern barbarians really have luck, disasters and disasters in Dazhou, Dazhou can retain a glimmer of life in Sichuan, use advanced fire/weapons and the brave counterattack of Sichuan people, Dazhou can also be reborn from the ashes.

Xing Cheng said that he could get fire/arms for Wu Liang and the others to see. No one doubted it. Everyone knew that Queen Xing said what she said in Sichuan.With a salary of 10 taels, Feng Yan is very happy, and it is not a big deal to give the merchants a few firecrackers to defend themselves.

The back garden of Wu's family was also quite as elegant as a garden in the south of the Yangtze River. Uncle Xing Guo came here surrounded by twenty entourages, even the masters of several families gathered together.

Mr. Wu said: "Uncle Guo did not hesitate to visit the humble house, the canopy is shining!"

Xing Cheng said with a smile: "It's easy to say, easy to say!"

The old man of the Li family said: "I heard that Uncle Guo was a young hero, but now I see him. I know that he is not as famous as meeting him. Those legends are not as good as Uncle Guo's real life."

The old man of the Bao family said: "Actually, the land of Jiliao has the title of Uncle Guo, because Uncle Guo is a young hero, capable of both civil and martial arts, known as 'Little White Dragon of the East Sea', and will be a Confucian general under the sage's seat in the future."

The old man of the Fan family said: "Looking at the face of my uncle Guo, the heaven is full, the ground is round, and the wealth and honor are unparalleled. In the future, he will definitely be appointed as a marquis and worshiped as a minister!"

Wu Liang said with a smile: "Uncle Fan is wrong. Uncle Guo is the son of the Duke of the State, and he may not be able to look up to this Marquis. If you want to talk about this worship, it is Uncle Guo's respect for Dazhou Sheji. Loyalty is the first word, and I will do my part!"

Everyone laughed and agreed, and Xing Cheng felt sour for a while. Rao has seen people flattering him, but it didn't make him feel guilty when he heard it.And they are actually able to not blush without heartbeat, and their faces are extremely sincere, this is real kung fu.

This group of people who could be Xing Cheng's grandpa flattered him, and he became more and more energetic, with a look of pride on his face.

Then it was Wu Liang who mentioned: "Today, all the uncles and brothers are gathered in the humble house, and I also want to ask Uncle Guo to let us learn a lot."

Then Xing Cheng smiled and said: "It's right, I want to play today too, Wang Qing, give me the gun."

The attendant named Wang Qing took a firecracker from the rectangular box he was carrying, loaded it with ammunition, and handed it to Xing Cheng.The young and old of the family couldn't help staring at the firecracker, but felt that the firecracker was simple in appearance, dark and without any fancy decorations, but it made people feel chills for no reason.

Last year in the Battle of Jinzhou, Baturu and others of the Golden and Blue Banner died on this thing.

Xing Cheng stood up, went to the small lake, pointed to the rocky rockery of Taihu Lake on the other side, and said, "I'll hit that rockery, Brother Wu, won't you mind?"

Wu Liang smiled and said: "It's just Shitouer, what's the point of worrying about it, Uncle Guo can fight wherever he likes!"

Everyone saw that Xing Cheng didn't even need to apply a line of medicine, but just turned the mechanism, and there was a bang, and the rocky rock chips on the other side of Taihu Lake splashed down.

All the young and old in the presence shrank their necks, feeling horrified, and the faces of the two waiting servants turned even greener, and they lowered their heads.

It was Wu Liang who was the first to speak, and said: "The opposite bank is more than ten feet away, and the force is really terrifying. With this shot, even if you are strong and iron, you can't stand it."

Xing Cheng smiled proudly: "This gun was designed by the sage herself. After several revisions, many skilled craftsmen in Da Zhou spent a lot of money to build it."

Mr. Wu clasped his fists and said, "That's why it is the blessing of the people in the world and the blessing of the country to have a sage emperor in the Great Zhou Dynasty and a generation of virtuous queens to assist him."

Xing Cheng thought to himself: You are probably a big traitor, but these superficial articles act like a loyal minister in the court, which shows that people's hearts are sinister.And to deal with the wicked in this world, the only way to deal with evil is to fight evil with evil.

Xing Cheng said with a smile: "Not to mention anything else, it's just the right time for the sage and the empress to step on the monkeys in An Nanguo and box the wild boar skin outside the pass."

Said that he was loaded with ammunition, aimed at the rockery of Taihu Lake and fired again. Seeing the debris splashing everywhere, everyone couldn't help being intimidated, and regretted for a moment in their hearts.

Several profiteers secretly thought that they would continue to make a lot of money from both sides, and wondered if they could have this fate.If it is found to be smuggling, collaborating with the enemy and traitorous country is the crime of punishing the clan.

They are too deep, if they don't help to arrange spies, find out the news, and don't continue to smuggle, if Jin Ruo reveals the news to Da Zhou, the nine families will die without a place to bury them.Hou Jinli treats them because their smuggling is a win-win thing, and it is not a kind of friendship or righteousness, so he can only continue to hide it, so as not to be discovered by Da Zhou.

All the young and old present felt that their personal safety was in question.

The original Second Young Master of Ji Liao Governor's Mansion seems unreliable, the Wu family only has one daughter as his concubine.In the past, they sent some homage to the governor's mansion every year, and they dared not bully the local officials in the northern Xinjiang area, but now that the sage empress and most of the powerful officials in Beijing are here, the governor's mansion is nothing.

Now if he could get close to this money-greedy kid, Uncle Guo, it would be much more secure.

Li Chengdong sighed suddenly: "With such a sharp weapon, then... What's the use of the Houjin people practicing hard riding and shooting?"

Xing Cheng didn't seem to care, the two servants in the garden were trembling all over.

Fan Tongdao: "I see that Uncle Guo doesn't need flint and gunpowder, and the loading of iron bullets is fast and tight, and the procedures are very simple."

Xing Cheng smiled and said: "Brother Fan has good eyesight, of course our firecrackers are different from ordinary firecrackers.

It is very convenient that the lead bullets can be fired directly without using the medicine thread. "

Mr. Wu was startled and asked, "Why?"

Xing Cheng said: "Of course the production technology is different from the one handed down from the previous Ming Dynasty. As for how to do it, I don't know."

The old man of the Bao family asked: "I think it's strange that this firecracker hits far and accurately, and its power is still so strong after ten battles."

Xing Cheng smiled and said: "More than ten feet? Ordinary firecrackers can hit targets ten feet away, but our sharp weapon can hit targets twenty feet away. Before the Jiannu white armor rushed to us, we harvested them all There are only so many elite soldiers in Jiannu Eight Banners, let’s say he has 20, but do you know how many firearms we have?”

Mr. Wu hurriedly asked: "How many?"

Xing Cheng was triumphant, and said: "Three years ago, my sister led 4 new troops and yellow-shirted troops to Ping'an South, and [-] people were equipped with this new type of firecracker. The firecrackers are also much stronger. Like my second brother-in-law’s Hubei New Army also has [-] new blunderbusses, not to mention the Yellow Shirt Army. Jiannu thought that he could take advantage of the chaos in Annanguo and take advantage of it. The water is gone, my brother-in-law is worrying that he can't find a reason to go north, haha!"

New guns, old guns, and models.

Tens of thousands of new guns, with a range of twenty feet, even if one person shoots one shot and kills one, the big gold will fall apart!They don't have the good intentions to worry about the rise and fall of the Jinjiang Mountain, but now that they are in deep trouble, even if they want to be the Zhongliang of the Great Zhou, it is too late.

Now that there are heavy troops on the border, their smuggled goods have also been reduced by more than half this year, and Houjin's military supplies are extremely scarce.But no matter how brave the Jurchen Batulu was, he had to eat enough to have the strength to fight, otherwise he would not be able to stand still.

Thinking of this, the heads of the various families present had weird expressions on their faces, but they still couldn't forget to flatter Uncle Guo.

Then Mr. Wu respectfully invited Xing Cheng to the main hall, where an extended banquet comparable to that enjoyed by the emperor was being set up.

Between the cups, Mr. Wu still talked about the original agreement to buy the blunderbuss. The child Xing Cheng was greedy for the drink, and smiled with a drunken eye: "Master, I am happy today, and I will give this blunderbuss to the old man. But your caravan If you want to buy guns, that’s a business. If I’m running around with my identity, it’s not a problem to get [-] or [-] guns. But the new guns are too expensive. You’re just dealing with tigers, wolves and bandits. Guns are much easier to use, this is more suitable for you.”

Mr. Fan said: "Oh, my country uncle, forty or fifty guns, even Fan's family is not enough! Besides, since you bought it, of course you should buy a new gun."

The Patriarchs and Shaodong agreed one after another.

Xing Cheng said: "Forty or fifty are not enough, how much do you want to buy?"

Mr. Wu looked at them, and said, "We want one thousand, and each of the caravan buddies and the nursing home will have one."

Xing Cheng screamed and said: "Even if you have this money, no matter how good my relationship is, I can't afford a thousand new guns. I guess it will be two hundred at most. As I said, the new guns are not available to all armies. They are all vying for the complete set, and the price is very expensive.”

Mr. Wu took a deep breath and said, "I am willing to spend a lot of money to buy this self-defense weapon. We will buy as much as Uncle Guo can get!"

Xing Cheng said: "The old man is really proud. Two hundred new guns are 10 taels!"

10 taels?That one costs 500 taels of silver?You might as well grab it!

Seeing that everyone looked different, Xing Cheng explained: "I have inside information that the cost of this new gun is very high due to the difficulty in manufacturing. The ex-factory price is about 200 taels, but of course the price will be at least 300 taels when shipped to the north. Well, it will cost me a lot of money to dredge the relationship between the various armies. Otherwise, I don’t lead troops now, so why should they give it to me? So if it is shared equally, it will cost more than 400 taels. Besides, I am so Many brothers work with me, and they also have to eat. To be honest, last time, for the sake of face, I dedicated all the money you donated to my sister..."

Several profiteers almost spurted old blood, clenched their fists so as not to lift the table.This kid's uncle is really too greedy!Which rock jumped out of it, and you have to be shameless?It's not like they haven't seen other corrupt officials before, but they still take bribes very implicitly. Only this kid just received 10 taels, and he is still greedy now.

Ten taels of silver are enough to feed a family of four in the countryside for a year.One of his guns costs 500 taels!Could this gun be made of gold?

Wu Liang twitched the muscles on his face in embarrassment, and said, "Uncle Guo, the 500 taels is really too expensive."

Xing Cheng said: "So I suggest that you buy the old-style guns. The new guns, masters and young masters, wear self-defense and show their status. The servants can use the old-style guns. The silver for one new gun can buy five old guns. The old guns I can get seven or eight hundred sticks."

Therefore, the old guns cost 100 taels!

Everyone looked at Mr. Wu, and Mr. Wu forced a smile and said, "Uncle Guo, we just transferred 10 taels of silver earlier, and now I'm afraid we won't be able to get so much cash out for a while."

Xing Cheng said with a smile: "The silver bills of Dongsheng Bank and Risheng Bank are also available. This thing is really good. Without this price, things can't be done. But you don't have to be embarrassed, it's not a good deal!"

Renyi, your sister!

……

Xing Cheng hummed a ditty, played with the jade pendant hanging from his waist, and strolled in the garden of the palace. Seeing that there were no eunuchs blocking his entry and exit today, he felt hey in his heart.

They don't think he doesn't understand anything, do they?For example, when Yu Nu was 11 years old, he brought the spring/gong with the cover of "Mencius" printed on it to Shang's study room, because he, who never liked to read, read it too seriously. The grand master wanted to praise him and found out the truth. He passed out.

That time his father beat his butt until it exploded, and he lay down for half a month before he could get off the ground.

It was the emperor's brother-in-law who told them that if he was a woman/sex early, he would not be able to practice martial arts well, and she would have to fight with you after marrying a wife.

Yu Nu thought about the love between the emperor's brother-in-law and the queen's sister, and couldn't help looking forward to marrying a smart and stunning wife in the future.But thinking about myself compared with the nephews of other families, homework is the worst, and the probability of the stunning beauty liking them is higher than liking him.Compared with being an official, like Shishi, Xiaoxiao, and Guoguo are definitely better than him.

However, he should be richer than them in the future, women love money.

Thinking so wildly, he went outside the study of the empress. After being notified by the eunuch, he walked into the hall, but only the empress was dealing with the daily military and political papers, while the emperor took Tu Xu to inspect the barracks.

After Xing Cheng saw the ceremony, Xing Xiuyan smiled and said: "Seeing you, it seems that there is a happy event."

Xing Cheng said with a smile: "Your Majesty has good eyesight. The minister talked about a business yesterday and is about to report to your Majesty."

As he spoke, he took out a small cloth bag from his pocket, opened it, and handed it a stack of bank notes.

Xing Xiuyan took it and took a look: "5 taels?"

Xing Cheng reported the business with a smile. He sold 10 old guns and [-] new guns for a total of [-] taels of silver.

Xing Cheng said with a smile: "The Ordnance Department also has a backlog of thousands of old guns that are prone to failure. It's not worth throwing away, and it's worth a few taels of silver, but the remanufacturing will be shipped back to Sichuan. It can be exchanged for silver, which saves the transportation. trouble."

Xing Xiuyan smiled, and said with a smile, "It's okay for me to let you sell it as you see fit, but you sell the old gun that is broken down to be more expensive than the new one?" The ex-factory price of a new gun is only 30 taels. Sell ​​100 taels?

Xing Cheng said: "I am asking for a lot of money, and they can also pay back the money on the spot."

Xing Xiuyan said: "As soon as the goods are inspected, the diorama will be broken."

Xing Cheng smiled and said: "Sister, are you confused? Those old guns have been repaired anyway, and they will be fine for a while, but after a few shots, hehe. Besides, they are the only ones who can understand what they are afraid of. test?"

Xing Xiuyan couldn't help hehe, thought for a while and said: "Then there is still bullet business."

Xing Cheng said: "That's right, one blunderbuss, two rounds of lead bullets are given away for free, and you can buy them from me after you finish shooting, as long as the gold is still there. One base is 50 taels."

Xing Xiuyan said: "You are so proud, do you think they are all fools?"

Xing Cheng said: "It's one thing for me to lie to them. I really want them to transport these guns back to those wild boar envoys. It's funny to think about it!"

Xing Xiuyan smiled: "You are being naughty, but if you really want to fool them once, you don't have to show a trick."

"How is it possible? Sister, I have been growing up..."

"I've been cheating on my father and my husband since I was a kid, right?" Xing Xiuyan also felt a little helpless for this younger brother who was the most mischievous, "But Yu Nu, you can't lose your sincerity when you are an official and treat people in the future. If you don’t tell people your sincerity, others won’t tell you your sincerity.”

Xing Cheng didn't dare to be perfunctory after listening to his sister's teaching, so he should claim it was. Xing Xiuyan thought for a while and said: "You and Wang Qing should discuss this matter, and it would be good if you can trick them once. But if you really show your flaws, don't force it. , your greater contribution is gone, or safety is more important. Do you understand?"

Xing Cheng has always been close to his sister, and he couldn't help being moved by the love and care in her words.

Xing Cheng said: "Mother, I won't be so useless, I can't handle this matter well, and I don't have the face to go back to Beijing to meet the elders in my hometown."

Xing Xiuyan shook her head secretly, but she drew up a warrant for him, and with her warrant, he could call out the ordnance.At this time, Zhao Quan sent a whole tray of papers, and the emperor went out to inspect, and she couldn't help but share these things.

Xing Cheng felt that compared to his sister, who was burdened with the military and political affairs of the Sichuan Special Economic Zone, traveled north and south, and was separated from her brother-in-law again and again, like his parents, they lived a life of prosperity, wealth, and ease.Xing Cheng remembered that he was originally from a poor family, so he could visit his uncle Li's family, but even they looked down on his parents back then.It was my elder sister who made the Xing family's prosperity and wealth, and she almost died that year.

When he grows up, although his studies are not as good as those of his nephews, he can still share his sister's worries, and he has to take care of the Xing family's wealth by himself.

It's too useless for women to bear the heavy responsibility of the family all the time, besides, my sister is now the queen, she is the royal daughter-in-law.

Xing Cheng was thinking about it, Xing Xiuyan pointed to the banknotes he gave, and said: "I will keep these banknotes, but the other half of the silver, the people under you must benefit from it. You have to pay for the rest. Take it."

Although Xing Cheng was happy, he was still a little embarrassed.The eldest sister is like a mother, and he is still pure and filial when he makes money at the beginning. A compliment and a smile from the eldest sister are worth 10 taels.

"This is also something sold to the imperial court, Yu Nu dare not keep it."

Xing Xiuyan smiled and said: "When working for the imperial court, you must know what you can and can't take. To be an official and a man must be worthy of the conscience of heaven and earth, but you don't have to be too pedantic, otherwise there will be no fish when the water is clear. I think you are 15 years old, my little one." Husband cannot live without money."

Xing Cheng said: "I am a real man."

Xing Xiuyan teased and said, "Oh, then a man must not be without power for a day. But you don't read well, so the chances of entering the cabinet and worshiping a powerful official are not very high."

Xing Cheng said unconvinced: "Do you have to read the Four Books and Five Classics to be a high-ranking official? I don't think there is anything good about it. Not everyone who can do things reads these. Let's talk about Cousin Lian. He is better at patrolling cases than many scholars." Those who come from good backgrounds."

Xing Xiuyan said: "It's useless for you to tell me. In this society, non-jinshi can't join the cabinet. If you can prove that you are better than Jinshi, you can master a force stronger than the world's Confucian scholars and literati groups. As the mainstay of the Great Zhou, Then you can change the society’s employment standards.”

Xing Cheng opened his eyes wide, and suddenly said: "Your Majesty, there is..." Xing Cheng suddenly found out that whoever in the world has a force that can barely compete with the Confucian scholars and literati groups in the world is his sister, Queen Xing.For a long time, it was just a disguise that the queen was ordered by the emperor to assist the government. The group gradually grew, and she also attracted some former Confucian scholars and literati.

Xing Xiuyan rolled his eyes at him, and said with a smile: "Fuck you, I have so many stories, I don't have time to joke with you."

Xing Cheng hurriedly raised his hands and went out of the hall.

Xing Cheng took the queen's order to call out the batch of ordnance, and Wang Qing led the incognito Jin Yiwei to escort ten carriages to Wu's mansion.

Wu's mansion opened the door, Mr. Wu and Wu Liang stepped forward to look at the goods, those so-called fire guns of the previous generation didn't look very different from the new guns.The Ordnance Institute has also repaired and maintained these old guns, and they look very similar.In times of crisis, these guns can still be used.

Xing Cheng smiled and said: "For this batch of goods, I have been talking all over the place, my lord. Hey!"

Xing Cheng looked at Mr. Wu meaningfully, and Mr. Wu thought to himself, anyway, at most they don't make money, and the real buyer of these goods is Houjin, so they should give them the money no matter what.

Wu Liang handed the silver ticket to Xing Cheng, Xing Cheng nodded, laughed loudly, and said: "Everyone is really refreshing, I like to make friends with you! However, since the goods have been delivered, I have something to do, so I will Will not be disturbing."

After Xing Cheng left, several profiteers, old and young, rushed up to take out a new gun to have a look. Suddenly, a servant standing beside him coughed.

A group of people came to their senses and brought their guns into the inner hall to study.

On behalf of the profiteering business group and a man with a bad complexion, Mr. Wu said, "Master Huitu, how about this blunderbuss?"

The man named Huitu took the blunderbuss. Although they are good at riding and shooting, they have seen firecrackers before. He felt that this blunderbuss was very good. The barrel was heavy, smooth and even, so he felt much more at ease holding , unlike many firecrackers in the Ming Dynasty who cut corners and made crudely.

Wu Liang touched the gun/pipe and sighed: "I don't know how to make such a thing."

He looked inside the barrel and said in surprise, "There's something in here!"

Everyone looked at it carefully, Fan Tong said: "Could it be that Dazhou's firecrackers can shoot far, because the barrel is different?"

Huitu said in Chinese with a slight accent: "You must transport this batch of firecrackers back to Shangjing as soon as possible!" With this authentic product, the emperor can ask the craftsmen to imitate it, or think of a way to crack it.These nearly a thousand guns can also equip a thousand elite soldiers, and perhaps a way to restrain them can be found in the military drills.

However, the post-gold man-made guns, let's get the materials right first.Xing Xiuyan has the knowledge of steelmaking, and Dazhou has more skilled craftsmen, and it took so many years.