Yang Lian pursed his lips and said with a hint of complaint, "It's just that I'm honored as the Empress. I don't understand why you are trying to curry favor with me."
Zhao Nanxing shook his head slightly and said, "Wen Ru, that's a serious statement! I'm just trying to establish a good relationship with you, not curry favor with you. Besides, Zhang Guozhang also admires the Donglin School of Thought, and we seem to share the same ideals."
Yang Lian remained silent, feeling disdainful in his heart, but it was not a good idea to argue in such a situation.
How could he not understand the thoughts of these people? He could influence the queen through Zhang Guoji, and then influence the emperor through the queen. Even if he couldn't influence them, it would be very useful to reveal the emperor's moods and thoughts.
Ye Xianggao gently put down his wine glass and said slowly: "If Zhang Guozhang has any concerns, there is no need to force it."
Gao Panlong nodded gently and said, "Your Excellency is absolutely right. As the saying goes, it's not a good deal if you're the one who's chasing after others. It's pointless for us to condescend to him and he just gives us a cold shoulder."
Sun Shenxing glanced from one to the other, his face showing displeasure. "You say this so easily now, but wasn't it our collective idea back then? We took advantage of the complicated ceremonies of the Emperor's wedding to establish connections with Zhang Guoji."
But no one comforted him because everyone's attention was focused on a minister who was meeting with the emperor.
Xu Guangqi was suddenly promoted by the young emperor, and every one of his requests was approved, and he was in the emperor's favor.
"I congratulate Your Majesty on your wedding." Xu Guangqi bowed and then reported, "Zhang Tao and Sun Xueshi have purchased twenty-two cannons in Macau. The Portuguese offered a very favorable price. At the court's request, they have also provided over twenty Portuguese gunners and an interpreter. Zhang Tao will escort them to Beijing shortly."
After the Ming-Jin War broke out, although the Ming army had many firearms, it suffered more defeats than victories, and the situation in Liaodong deteriorated.
At that time, Xu Guangqi submitted a memorial to the court, advocating the introduction of advanced Western firearms and training methods to re-arm the Ming army in order to reverse the declining situation on the Liaodong battlefield.
In the first year of Taichang, the court approved it, and Xu Guangqi entrusted Li Zhizao and others to send Zhang Tao and Sun Xueshi to Macau to purchase firearms from Portuguese merchants.
After careful selection, Zhang Tao and his team purchased four red-haired cannons, which proved to be incredibly powerful after test firing.
After listening to Zhang Tao and others' report, Xu Guangqi immediately submitted a memorial to the court: "At this time, firearms are the most important priority... The only weapon that can defeat the enemy is the Shenwei cannon."
Although the Ming court bureaucrats were quite inefficient and did not attach importance to the Western barbarians' muskets and artillery, after repeated discussions, they still sent Zhang Tao and Sun Xueshi as imperial envoys to Macau to purchase artillery and hire Western artillerymen. This happened before Ye Xuan traveled through time and space.
Regardless of whether it was a decision made by Taichang or the real Tianqi, Ye Xuan, the current Emperor Tianqi, was still so excited that he could not express it in words when he heard the news.
This is exactly what he wants to do. Since he has already done it in advance, he can take over and continue to carry it forward.
"What about the Portuguese muskets? Will they also send a team of musketeers?" Zhu Youxiao asked anxiously. "And have you hired the Portuguese technicians who make muskets?"
Xu Guangqi bowed and said, "Your Majesty's order was issued a little late, and the Portuguese still need to make some preparations. Imperial Envoy Sun Xueshi will remain in Macau to continue to carry out the mission entrusted by Your Majesty."
Zhu Youxiao nodded and asked Xu Guangqi, "Have you found the root cause of the quality problems with the bird guns made by the Military Equipment Bureau? Is it the iron quality, the smelting, or the forging method?"
Xu Guangqi hesitated, but still reported truthfully: "According to my humble investigation and analysis, the firearms produced by the Military Equipment Bureau are of poor quality, and the main reason is the drawbacks of the craftsman-household system."
After a pause, Xu Guangqi continued, "During the Wanli reign, Zhao Shizhen, the Secretary of the Wuying Palace, made a brilliant analysis. I have summarized it in a memorial and will present it to the Emperor tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?" Zhu Youxiao frowned and asked, "Do you have the memorial with you? Let me see it now."
"Today is a day of great joy for Your Majesty—" Xu Guangqi hesitated for a moment and said, "That is why I did not bring any memorials."
Zhu Youxiao nodded and said, "Mr. Xu, could you please give me a brief account? I also understand the drawbacks of this craftsman household system."
Seeing that the young emperor was so anxious and caring about national affairs, Xu Guangqi was very pleased. He carefully considered his words and tried to give a brief explanation in simple terms.
Zhao Shizhen was an outstanding firearms research and development expert in the Ming Dynasty. He developed and improved many kinds of firearms throughout his life. He was also good at calligraphy and poetry. He also wrote "The Catalogue of Divine Weapons", "Miscellaneous Talks on Divine Weapons", "The Catalogue of Divine Weapons or Questions", "On Preventing Enemy Chariots and Guns" and other treatises on the research and development, use and training of firearms.
In the history of ancient Chinese science and technology, Zhao Shizhen can be ranked alongside Ming Dynasty scientists Song Yingxing and Xu Guangqi, and is a very impressive figure.
In "The Catalogue of Divine Artifacts", Zhao Shizhen compared the Rumi gun, the bird gun, the Western gun, and the Japanese iron cannon, and found that the Rumi had the best performance, the Western gun ranked second, the Japanese iron cannon ranked third, and the bird gun was at the bottom.
In the process of studying firearms, Zhao Shizhen also discovered a strange phenomenon, that is, the performance of the authentic bird guns used by the Ming Dynasty army was not as good as the pirated bird guns made by the people. The latter were exported to Southeast Asia and were welcomed by the locals.
After analysis, Zhao Shizhen found the reason and believed that it was not because China could not produce good firearms, but because of its stupid and backward system.
China is unwilling to work with precision, not incapable of it. This statement reveals the fact that the production of military equipment in the Ming Dynasty lacked supervision and was shoddy.
"…In China, everything is owned by the public. Officials don't know how to build, officers don't know how to use, and soldiers don't know how to pack and clear. When it comes to public works, craftsmen are naturally unwilling to put their heart into it. The self-serving supervisors seek to economize, while those who don't economize are willing to pay less. Once economize and pay less, it becomes difficult to enforce the law. With no profit ahead, there's no fear of the law behind. With everyone, big and small, confused, content with doing things sloppily, how can we expect quality work?"
Xu Guangqi made the final summary, basically repeating the conclusions made by Zhao Shizhen.
Zhu Youxiao thought for a moment, smiled bitterly, and said, "Whatever changes you wish to make, Lord Xu, please submit the regulations. I will fully support you."
After a pause, the young emperor continued, "I also have some ideas and suggestions, which I will hand over to Lord Xu. If they are suitable, use them; if not, discard them."
Xu Guangqi bowed and saluted, then respectfully replied, "I will obey your command and live up to your Majesty's expectations. I will quickly reform the accumulated problems and produce exquisite firearms."
Like serfs, artisans had a low social status. How could they have such enthusiasm and initiative for work?
There is no distinction between public and private, rewards and punishments are unclear, and coupled with the corruption of the bureaucracy and the officials' cutting corners, it is easy to imagine how many of the products produced are unqualified.
Zhu Youxiao certainly knew something about the rules and regulations, processes, and reward and punishment systems of later factory enterprises. Whether the responsibility system or the assembly line could be used was up to Xu Guangqi.
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