Zhao Huan's eyes immediately lit up. Wasn't this the 1.0 version of the musket?
Wait a minute, wasn't the fire lance only invented in the Southern Song Dynasty?
Damn it, it seems I was fooled by those damn keyboard warriors from later generations!
Suppressing his excitement, Zhao Huan asked, "Who developed this thing?"
Shao Chengzhang cautiously replied, "Your Majesty, this item was developed by Ling Zhen, the former Minister of War Equipment."
Zhao Huan frowned slightly. Ling Zhen? That name sounds somewhat familiar.
He couldn't remember for a moment, and asked again, "Where is this person now?"
Although he didn't know why the emperor was suddenly interested in something that had no practical value, Shao Chengzhang still answered Zhao Huan's question honestly: "Ling Zhen has retired to his hometown."
Zhao Huan raised an eyebrow, clearly displeased: "Retire and go back to your hometown? Why retire and go back to your hometown? Is it because the court isn't giving you enough money?"
Trembling slightly at the emperor's cold tone, Shao Chengzhang hurriedly said, "This... Your Majesty, Ling Zhen insulted his superiors and disregarded the law; he has been dismissed from his post."
"How has he become so lawless?"
“Ling Zhen disregarded everyone’s objections and forcibly developed the fire lance, wasting manpower and resources. However, the fire lance is not very powerful and often injures his own people. Yet he seems to be obsessed with this thing and insists on developing it. I believe he is no longer suitable to stay in the Ordnance Bureau.”
Upon hearing this, Zhao Huan's face immediately turned icy. "Damn it! This thing is a basic weapon that all armies in the world must have in later generations!"
Just as he was about to get angry, he thought again that he couldn't blame Shao Chengzhang for this. After all, the fire lance was too primitive, and its biggest drawback was that it was easy to explode. Moreover, compared with the Shenbi crossbow of the Song Dynasty, it was not powerful enough and its range was far behind.
This Shao Chengzhang is quite a figure. In history, he was Emperor Qinzong's most loyal eunuch. Wang Kuian was just an ordinary eunuch. If I hadn't transmigrated here and needed people, he wouldn't have been in the picture. But as things stand, Wang Kuian has handled things quite well.
Zhao Huan thought to himself that having Shao Chengzhang oversee the Imperial Arsenal was a good arrangement. The Imperial Arsenal had always been valued by the emperors of the Song Dynasty, and although Shao Chengzhang was a eunuch, he was a man of integrity and principle.
Upon thinking of this, Zhao Huan's anger vanished; this matter really couldn't be blamed on Shao Chengzhang.
His tone softened: "Where is Ling Zhen from?"
Not knowing why the emperor suddenly became interested in Ling Zhen, Shao Chengzhang dared not hide the truth and honestly replied, "Your Majesty, Ling Zhen is from Kaifeng."
"I'm giving you one hour to go and find this Ling Zhen for me!"
Shao Chengzhang quickly replied, "Yes, sir!"
"Go quickly!"
Shao Chengzhang turned and ran out to the stables, where he mounted his horse and galloped away.
The Military Equipment Bureau of the Song Dynasty was a department that researched various weapons. It had many talented people who developed sophisticated equipment for the Song army, including the famous Thunderclap Bomb.
Generally speaking, the Imperial Arsenal was staffed with a Supervisor, a Vice-Minister, and a Registrar. The Supervisor was an attendant of the emperor and represented the emperor in supervising the Imperial Arsenal. The Vice-Minister was in charge of managing the Imperial Arsenal and was responsible for the overall results. The Registrars were mainly responsible for recording and filing documents.
Shao Chengzhang was already in charge of the Military Equipment Bureau before Zhao Huan ascended the throne.
After only half an hour, Shao Chengzhang brought Ling Zhen back, or rather, tied him up. When he brought him back, Ling Zhen was still struggling.
As Shao Chengzhang untied Ling Zhen, he said, "Ling Zhen, the Emperor is here, how dare you be so arrogant!"
Ling Zhen immediately knelt down and performed the grand salute: "This humble subject kowtows to the Emperor, long live the Emperor!"
Zhao Huan didn't put on any airs, nor did he ask any unnecessary questions. He went straight to the point: "If I want the fire lance to become a firearm in the hands of every soldier of the Song Dynasty, how should it be improved?"
Ling Zhen was drinking today. Since leaving the Ordnance Bureau, he had been feeling very depressed. The fire lance he had painstakingly developed was left in a corner of the Ordnance Bureau, destined to be ignored. So he could only relieve his depression by drinking.
But he didn't understand what day it was. While he was drinking, that son of a bitch Shao Chengzhang suddenly rushed in with his men. Without saying a word, he tied him up. He cursed loudly, but the other party didn't utter a sound.
Only now did Ling Zhen realize that he had been kidnapped to meet the emperor!
Ling Zhen can be described as a person whose talents were not recognized. Before Emperor Huizong of Song, the emperors of the Song Dynasty attached great importance to the Department of Military Equipment, but since that artistic emperor came to power, the department has been basically neglected.
Ling Zhen always felt that it would be wonderful if he could serve as the Minister of Military Equipment during the reign of Emperor Shenzong. Emperor Shenzong was the most ambitious emperor since Emperor Taizong, and he attached great importance to the empire's military equipment.
What a pity, I just happened to meet someone who only likes to do art.
Upon seeing the emperor, Ling Zhen's drunkenness vanished, replaced by nervousness.
"Your Majesty, the biggest problem with the fire lance is that it is prone to exploding..."
Zhao Huan interrupted Ling Zhen directly: "I'm not asking a question. I know this thing is very risky and could easily blow up our own people. I'm asking you how to improve it. Just tell me the method."
"Your Majesty, it shall be forged from iron."
Shao Chengzhang immediately said, "Ling Zhen, you are indulging in wishful thinking again. Iron is expensive, and using it to manufacture fire lances is a serious waste. Don't try to bewitch the emperor!"
Zhao Huan stopped Shao Chengzhang from speaking, and looked intently at Ling Zhen: "From this day forward, you will still be the Vice Minister of the Arsenal! Ling Zhen, listen to me carefully. I am willing to spend a lot of money on the Arsenal. You can find whatever kind of people you need and decide how to allocate them. But you must give me what I want!"
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