In the Great Ming Imperial Palace.
In the imperial study of the Hall of Heaven.
When Zhu Yuanzhang brought Zhu Zhen back, Crown Prince Zhu Biao was discussing the manufacturing of the muskets with the officials from the Ministry of War, Ministry of Revenue, Ministry of Works, Bureau of Weaponry, and Bureau of War.
The ceremony was over.
"Boss, have you shown the blueprints of the musket to your beloved ministers?"”
"How much can our Big Ming produce now?”
"Imperial Father Bing, the iron in the national treasury is all useful."”
"Just now, after discussing with the Minister of Revenue, Haiyuan, I was able to bring out 300,000 catties of iron, enough to make 3,000 matchropes.”
"However, the Ministry of Works, Bureau of Weaponry, and Bureau of Battles lack skilled craftsmen. Currently, they can only produce 300 muskets a month.”
Hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang's expression darkened. His gaze was as sharp as a knife as he looked at the officials.
Although the muskets were powerful, there were too few of them, so they were not very useful.
The Minister of Works, Huang Su, the Minister of Revenue, Hai Yuan, the Minister of War, Teng Demao, and the Ambassador of the Bureau of Military Equipment knelt on the ground in fear.
"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is telling the truth.”Huang Su said.
Zhu Yuanzhang said coldly,"Since craftsmen are scarce, just recruit them for me."”
" Your Majesty," Huang Su, the Minister of Works, said," the muskets are too precise. Only the best craftsmen can make them. It takes a few years for such craftsmen to complete their apprenticeship.”
"Besides, I still need to make other armor and weapons. I really can't do anything in the short term.”
When Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, he flew into a rage. He flung his sleeves and said,"Hmph, all of you only know how to complain to me. You can't do this or that. What use do I have for you?”
"Tell the Ministry of Works to hurry up and make 500 muskets every month. If you can't make them, you don't have to be officials anymore!”
All the officials were frowning, but they had no choice but to listen to the order. They could only say in unison,"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Alright, if there's nothing else, you can leave.”Zhu Yuanzhang said.
"Your Majesty," Huang Su said,"I have a presumptuous request. Please grant it."”
"Speak," said Zhu Yuanzhang.
Huang Su said excitedly," I would like to meet the master craftsman who drew the musket. To be able to design the musket and draw such an exquisite blueprint, he must be an expert. If I can meet him and learn from him face to face, I will have no regrets in my life."”
Huang Su was originally a craftsman, and he held great admiration for the master craftsman.
He had asked the Crown Prince this question earlier, but the Crown Prince was a steady person and did not tell him without Zhu Yuanzhang's permission.
Therefore, this question had been lingering in Huang Su's mind, making him feel as if his heart was being scratched by claws.
In history, the Minister of Works, Huang Su, was an upright official.
Such a person was naturally easy to offend. Later on, he was impeached by the censor and was whipped.
Hongwu Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang knew Huang Su's character and knew that he was framed. Therefore, he said that if a high official like the Six Ministers made a small mistake in his work, he could not humiliate him. He could just punish him with a small salary.
The emperor said,"The duties of the six ministers should not be insulted by trivial matters.”He was ordered to atone for his sins with his salary. Ming Shi Lu
Therefore, Emperor Hongwu was strict with corrupt officials, but he was very tolerant of good officials.
Zhu Yuanzhang was amused to see Huang Su praise his sixth brother.
He pouted at Zhu Zhen and said,
"The master craftsman is far away but right in front of us. This blueprint was drawn by our sixth brother.”
Hiss!
All the officials were stunned!
They all looked at Zhu Zhen in shock.
Huang Su was both surprised and delighted. He went forward and bowed to Zhu Zhen repeatedly. Then, he asked Zhu Zhen some questions about the details of the musket blueprint.
Of course, this old man was upright and upright, but he was very smart.
It was to test whether the Hongwu Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang's words were true or not, and to test Zhu Zhen's knowledge.
Zhu Zhen was rather easy-going and explained everything to him in detail.
After a series of explanations, Huang Su was instantly shocked by Zhu Zhen's talent, and the other officials were also in awe.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty! His Highness the King of Chu is a master bestowed by the heavens to the Ming Dynasty. It is our Ming Dynasty's fortune to have His Highness the King of Chu.”
Zhu Yuanzhang chuckled.
I know our Saint Child.
Huang Su and the others were about to leave when Zhu Zhen walked to his father, Zhu Yuanzhang, and took out two more blueprints.
"Imperial Father, I still have two treasures that I would like Lord Huang to help me forge.”
Zhu Yuanzhang took a look. On the blueprint was an extremely ugly horse lance and a set of golden silk soft armor.
There was also a detailed explanation:
The horse lance was eighteen feet long and had eight sharp blades. It was made of Meteoric Metal and weighed sixty-six pounds.
As for the Golden Silk Soft Armor, it was made up of fine golden silk rings. Its design was extremely exquisite, and it covered the entire body, making it impenetrable. It was forged from ancient refined iron.
Two blueprints, a weapon, and a protective gear. Zhu Yuanzhang did not take them to heart.
"Horse lances and soft armor are not rare items.”
Zhu Yuanzhang threw the blueprint to Huang Su.
Huang Su was shocked when he saw them. These two drawings were also the work of a master.
He couldn't help but click his tongue in wonder.
"Your Highness King Chu is truly a god."
"This spear is an ancient spear and is most suitable for horse battles. Back then, the champion of the Han Dynasty, Huo Qubing, used this spear to sweep across the north of the desert and return after sealing the wolf.”
"As for this Gold Silk Soft Armor, the craftsmanship of this blueprint is even more exquisite than that of the Ministry of Works 'Soft Armor Blueprint. The soft armor made is light and soft, impenetrable by swords and spears, and is a defensive treasure.”
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and smiled." Well, in that case, let the Ministry of Works hurry up and forge it. After it's done, send it to Sixth Brother."”
Huang Su said," There are two sets of soft armors from the previous dynasty in the warehouse. We can smelt them and forge them again. It's just enough for one set of soft armor. It should be ready in about seven days."”
"Meteoric Metal. There is indeed a piece of Meteoric Metal in the warehouse, but it is less than 66 catties.”
"There is an ancient spear in the warehouse. Although it is not Meteoric Metal, its material is similar to Meteoric Metal. It is said to be used by Cao Cao of the Three Kingdoms and later owned by Tang Cheng.”
"I request to use Meteoric Metal as the handle to reforge this ancient spear. Its power is comparable to an ancient divine weapon.”
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded in satisfaction." That's good.”
He then looked at his Sixth Brother." Sixth Brother, what do you think?"”
Actually, weapons depended on who was using them. Huo Qubing's forest lance was actually a little better than an ordinary horse lance.
Zhu Zhen had originally wanted to forge a horse lance that was similar to the one he had forged. It was something like the Meteoric Metal or the Ancient Refined Iron. It was just that he had high requirements out of habit. If he didn't have it, ordinary Refined Iron would do.
However, he did not expect Huang Su to be so honest that he would really gather these rare materials for him.
This was naturally a pleasant surprise.
Zhu Zhen bowed to Huang Su and said seriously,""Then I'll have to trouble Lord Huang. Lord Huang, please hurry up and forge it as soon as possible.”
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