Gongshu Chou stood by and listened attentively.

Standardized...assembly line production?

He hadn't expected such an idea to exist.

Nowadays, most craftsmen are proficient in a variety of areas. Even when crafting weapons, they all work individually. There's no such thing as collaborative work, with each person responsible for different parts. Crucially, weapons vary in size and specifications, making repairs difficult. This was evident during the Shang Dynasty, as seen in the story of Gongshu Chouji, where the crossbows used were of varying lengths, significantly reducing their lethality.

Ning Que's idea was to set specifications.

Everyone makes weapon accessories according to specifications.

If a component breaks down, it can be replaced at any time.

Hearing this concept is like opening the door to a new world.

He looked at Ning Que and felt extremely emotional.

They have been craftsmen all their lives, but they never thought of this.

Ning Que was so young, yet he was able to come up with these ideas.

"tractor."

"What are your orders, my Lord?"

"You will assist Gongshu Jia in arranging the personnel. The personal guards will be primarily responsible for protecting the firearms workshop, and will also help them build the workshop."

"promise!"

"Ergou, you're a skilled archer." Ning Que looked at Wang Ergou again. "Many of your subordinates were once hunters, and are skilled in using bows and crossbows. You will select a group of elite soldiers and train them to use muskets. But remember, you must never point your guns at your own people. I will write a safety manual later, and each of you must strictly follow it. Anyone who disobeys military orders will be severely punished!"

"promise!"

Wang Ergou also raised his hand in response.

He had seen the power of firearms before and knew that if one of them accidentally went off, exploding, it would basically mean death. These elite soldiers were all precious treasures, each one meticulously trained. Ning Que could not tolerate any accidents.

"In the future, I will form the Shenji Battalion. Everyone will primarily use firearms, and Ergou, you will be its commander. You must do your best and don't let me down. You will be the future aces of aces, and as long as you fight, you will determine victory or defeat on the battlefield. This includes the subsequent fight against the Japanese pirates, and you will also be the main force!"

"Don't worry, Your Majesty!"

Wang Ergou nodded firmly.

Ning Que smiled and patted his shoulder.

He had three commanders under his command, and this time, Wang Ergou contributed the most. He initially defended Bailing Island, suffering heavy casualties. He then sailed south, bringing his personal guards and Goguryeo captives to Nanyue. Following Haizai's instructions, he began building a workshop. He has been working non-stop ever since, and several men have already died in Lingnan.

"Shenjiying?"

"Heh... Junior Brother is really good at naming."

"But I don't think it's necessary to just use a musket."

Haejae shook his head.

As the national teacher of Nanyue, he knew something about fighting.

"Of course it's more than just muskets."

"This stuff is just the beginning."

"On the open plains, muskets are very useful. But for sieges, they're probably not as good as bows and crossbows. We can continue to improve them and create cannons. They're a hundred times more powerful than muskets. A single cannonball might be enough to take down a city. They can also cause immense damage, making them a truly devastating weapon on the battlefield. There aren't any decent cities in Lingnan, so I'm not rushing to make them. It won't be too late to create cannons once the quality of gunpowder improves and the manufacturing process improves."

"artillery?"

"It's the same as a musket." Ning Que pointed at the matchlock. "Let me give you an analogy. If you enlarge this matchlock several dozen times and increase the amount of gunpowder it holds, what do you think of its power?"

"hiss……"

Haigui suddenly took a breath of cold air.

"Then it must be more powerful than the giant stone cannon, right?"

"certainly."

Ning Que nodded as a matter of course.

The principles of cannons and matchlock guns are actually very similar.

It is not difficult to manufacture artillery.

All it takes is enough gunpowder.

However, the demand for artillery in Lingnan is not high at the moment, so Ning Que wants to increase production first. He remembered that during the Anti-Japanese War, there was a kind of cannon called the "Conscienceless Cannon". This thing was quite powerful and easy to build, suitable for manual labor. Once the subsequent gunpowder production can be stabilized and a sufficient amount is stockpiled, he will start large-scale construction of earthen cannons. It doesn't need to be super-good, just something like the "Conscienceless Cannon" will do. The main thing is that it is simple to build and easy to disassemble and carry. When he returns to attack Dafeng later, he can pull it out and bombard it, providing a wave of firepower coverage!

"Gongshu Jia, you don't have to rush into researching artillery."

"I'll prepare some blueprints for you later, just study them when you have time."

"I'll also come up with a safety code later. Gunpowder is extremely powerful, so we need to be extremely cautious and avoid any sparks. I'll teach you everything you need to know."

"Okay, Junior Master."

Ning Que smiled and patted him.

"It's noon now, how about we try the food at the Firearms Shop? Gongshu Jia, go get someone to prepare some for us too."

"This..." Gongshu Jia hesitated slightly and whispered, "Master, the food here is simple and rough. It's just enough to fill you up. Master, you might not like it."

"It doesn't matter, let's just try it."

Ning Que smiled and waved his hand.

In his view, details determine success or failure. This firearms workshop is essentially a town, with a vast workforce of artisans, slaves, and soldiers. It will likely require expansion and additional manpower. Therefore, he must be careful with food, clothing, shelter, and transportation, especially with food. He can eat a simple meal, but he must be able to eat enough. If he doesn't have enough, how can he have the energy to work?

"That works!"

Gongshu Jia immediately raised his hand and took his leave.

Ning Que asked them to sit down.

"By the way, where are Junior Brother Yi and Senior Brother Ximen?"

"They're worried about Master, so they're secretly protecting him." Ning Que looked helpless. "I originally wanted them to come with me to Lingnan, but they think Master might be harmed by Emperor Feng. If Emperor Feng really wants to harm Master, they'll find a way to rescue him."

"So that's how it is..."

"Master, is there anything wrong?"

"Don't worry, Emperor Feng isn't that stupid." Ning Que waved his hand, casually sitting on a nearby wooden stake, and said calmly, "Actually, ever since he knew I was a disciple of the Divine Machine Pavilion, he's been wanting to use me so they could work for him. He even tried to test Master before, but didn't force me out of my favor. Without solid evidence, he wouldn't take action against the Divine Machine Pavilion. After all, the Divine Machine Pavilion is the most powerful force in Jiuzhou. Offending it wouldn't benefit the current Great Feng."

"That's good."

Gongshu Chou nodded.

He is a typical stubborn person.

He actually cares about Bu Suanzi very much.

It’s a pity that there were some conflicts at the beginning and it has always been awkward.

"Come on, here comes the fish soup!"