"Grand Secretary, I have decided to allocate 10 million taels of silver for you to set up the Firearms Bureau and issue a summoning order to the provincial governors to gather all the skilled craftsmen in the country to develop and forge firearms and cannons!”
Yu Minzhong's eyes lit up as he knelt on the ground.
"This servant obeys the decree, the emperor is wise!"
Aguenfelon also knelt down and shouted.
As nobles of the Mien Qing Clan, how could they not know the power of fire weapons?
Today was different from the past. If they didn't develop firearms and cannons, would the Qing army use sabers, spears, bows and arrows to resist the attack of the Ming army with sharp firearms if Zhu Ming's remnants really came?
Qianlong said coldly," It is better to take preventive measures. Although we are not sure if the Zhu Ming remnants will invade the Qing Dynasty, we have to take precautions. The Firearms Bureau must start forging firearms and cannons. I will have Hailancha recruit 100,000 Eight Banners soldiers to form a new army that specializes in firearms.”
"Do you have any good generals for the new army?”
Hearing this, Agui, Fulong, An, and Minzhong fell silent. Because the imperial court prohibited the development of firearms, the generals were not very familiar with the tactics of the firearms army.
No, there were Western Missionaries in the capital. They were good at using guns and cannons!
Yu Minzhong thought of this and immediately offered suggestions.
"Your Majesty, this servant will recommend the right assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue, the third-class brave man, Lord Fu Kangan, to lead the new army. Then, we will hire Westerners to guide the new army's training. The Westerners 'understanding of firearms is above our Qing Dynasty!”
Fu Kangan?
Qianlong smiled. In fact, the best candidate in his heart was Fu Kangan.
In the battle of the Big and Small Jinchuan, Fu Kangan fought hard with the soldiers and defeated the enemy. He showed his military talent. He was good at managing the army, capable of literature and martial arts. He was also the third son of the first-class loyal and brave Duke Fu Heng and the nephew of Empress Xiaoxian. He was the leader of the new army.
Fu Longan looked at Yu Minzhong gratefully.
That's right, if Third Brother can become the new army's general, he must personally visit and thank him.
"Alright, let Fu Kangan lead the new army.”
"As for hiring Westerners to help train the new army…"
Qianlong instinctively felt that there was no need. Our Qing Dynasty was vast and had many talents. Why would we need to borrow the hands of foreigners to train the new army?
However, on second thought, Qianlong was depressed again.
It seemed that Westerners were indeed more knowledgeable about firearms than the Qing Dynasty. Many of the firearms in his collection came from the West. They were exquisite and powerful.
He also knew that the western armies were equipped with guns and cannons. Their tactics had been continuously improved and summarized in the war, and they had become more mature.
After weighing the pros and cons, Qianlong decided to humbly ask for advice.
"Grand Scholar, you can make the arrangements. I appoint you as the deputy commander of the new army. You will be responsible for forging firearms and cannons for the new army. You must recruit Westerners to assist Fu Kangan in training the new army.”
"This servant obeys the decree, the emperor is wise!"
Yu Minzhong knelt on the ground again, admiring Qianlong's arrangements.
Saint Monarch, Saint Monarch!
"Your Majesty is wise. With the wise and mighty Emperor's strategies, Zhu Ming's remaining bastards will definitely be crushed into pieces and die without a burial place if they dare to invade our Qing Dynasty.”
hahaha ~
Qianlong laughed out loud. This Yu Minzhong was too much. What nonsense was he spouting?
"Alright, go back and rest!"
"Your Majesty, rest early. This servant will take his leave.”
Yu Minzhong and the other two hurriedly left. After they left the door, the three of them stood up with smiles on their faces.
"Thank you, Lord Yu." Fu Longan smiled.”
"There is no need to thank me. The right assistant minister is skilled in both civil and martial arts, and he has repeatedly made contributions in the Battle of Jin Chuan. Other than him, who else has the qualifications to lead the new army?”
Yu Minzhong was very good at being a person, and he was full of compliments.
There was nothing he could do. Although he was a minister of military affairs, on the same level as Fulong, An, and Ah Gui, he was ostracized and suppressed everywhere because he was a minister of the Han Dynasty. He had to be careful with his words and actions.
Therefore, there were many benefits to building a good relationship with the two brothers, Fu Longan and Fu Kangan.
"Lord Yu, the emperor has ordered you to supervise the production of firearms. I have a suggestion that I don't know if I should say it.”
At this moment, Ah Gui suddenly spoke.
Yu Minzhong nodded." Please speak, Lord Yingxiong. I'm all ears."”
"Lord Yu, the firearms and artillery skills of the Westerners are very exquisite. The shooting speed, shooting distance, and lethality of the firearms are also very strong. You can go to the Westerners to help forge firearms.”
"I can be sure that the Westerners will definitely do their best to help. Because the Westerners are also afraid of Zhu Ming's remnants, they have reported to the Qing Dynasty. Strictly speaking, Zhu Ming's remnants are also their enemies, so there is no reason not to help.”
"With the ready-made firearms technology of the Westerners, we can get twice the result with half the effort!”
As Ah Gui finished speaking, Yu Minzhong gave him a thumbs up.
"Duke Bravery is indeed the pillar of the country. I've learned your lesson. I'll go and find the Western missionary overnight.”
"Lord Yu has worked hard, so we won't delay. We'll mobilize troops to the south overnight!”
"Alright, I wish the two sirs a safe journey!”
The three of them walked to the palace gate and after complimenting each other, they split up.
……
South Atlantic Ocean, Flower Island.
Zhu Weichu, who was holding the funeral of the Empress Dowager, did not know that Qianlong was already preparing for the war. If he knew, he might regret it because he had completed Zhu Zhenglong's legacy of beating up the continent and showing off his muscles. This caused a chain reaction and made the difficulty of the War of the Qing Dynasty more than doubled.
Fortunately, Zhu Zhenglong had left behind a lot of resources. As long as he fought steadily and did not underestimate the enemy, his chances of winning were still very high.
Early in the morning, the wind was gentle and the sun was bright. The crowd of people attending the funeral was all over the mountains and plains. The womenfolk could not get close, so they could only stand under the cool breeze of Mount Tai to send off the Empress Dowager.
Reba had stayed on the island for three days and had almost understood the situation of Flower Planting Island. She was very familiar with Zhu Weichu's personal maid, Dashuang and Xiaoshuang.
Especially Xiaoshuang, who was lively and cheerful, and Reba, who had the same personality, hit it off at first sight. She wished she could become sworn sisters of the opposite sex.
Reba was also happy. She finally had a friend in this parallel world where she had no family. She treated the innocent and kind Xiaoshuang like a sister.
"Xiao Shuang, why isn't the Empress Dowager buried in the Imperial Tombs?”
"Shh, don't ask blindly. This is taboo!”
Xiao Shuang looked around and confirmed that no one was paying attention to them before she whispered,""Sister Reba, don't mention this in front of anyone in the future. Be careful not to lose your head.”
"Alright, I won't ask anymore. Are you going to follow His Majesty on the expedition?”
Reba was shocked and quickly changed the topic.
"Of course, my sister and I will follow. Those guards are all rough men, so we have to serve His Majesty.”
Xiaoshuang raised her chin proudly, looking as if she was wondering how His Majesty would live without her.
Reba's mouth twitched slightly, and the netizens in the live broadcast room were even more envious and jealous.
This stinking feudal aristocratic life!
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