Heavy snow gradually fell outside Anmin Factory.
The Wei Dynasty thoughtfully stepped forward and presented cloaks to the emperor and the Minister of Rites.
Then he handed the snow umbrella to Zheng Zongxue, a member of Zhongshushe, and then slowly retreated.
The little emperor opened Zheng Zongxue's umbrella, reached out to catch a snowflake with the back of his hand, and wiped it away.
Ma Ziqiang still lowered his head and thought about what the emperor had just said, and remained silent.
All of a sudden, all the snowflakes fell on Ma Ziqiang's shoulders.
Both the monarch and his ministers were thinking about the topic that the emperor had just raised.
There are many examples of military ministers participating in court discussions.
More recently, during the Gengxu Incident, Emperor Sejong was seriously ill and sought medical treatment. Not to mention the military officials and generals, even the people who fled were called to the court for questioning.
But when Zhu Yijun asked this question, he naturally did not ask Gu Huan to go to the palace for questioning.
Rather, it is necessary to give the governor of the capital the status of a position where he can participate in government affairs.
What is the Tingyi? The Tingyi is the core meeting of the central government to participate in and discuss government affairs!
The six ministries currently participating in the imperial meeting, including the Ducha Yuan, Dali Temple, General Affairs Department, Guanglu Temple, Taipu Temple, Hanlin Academy, Imperial College, and Liu Ke, are the core officials of the Ming Dynasty today.
Lin Lin gathered together, there were about thirty people.
How many warriors are there among them?
Of course there is none.
Controlling military force with culture has been the national policy since Hongwu.
This is the spontaneous evolution of the system in pursuit of stability, which is understandable and inevitable.
But the problem is that participation in political power is the most basic right.
If certain classes do not have even a hint of political participation, their status will gradually decline, no matter how noble the status claimed.
This is what today's military attachés are like.
Even if you are a commander-in-chief, you can only be a "stooge" in front of civil servants - "A military man who is a great commander-in-chief will pay homage to civil servants. Even if his rank is extremely high, he will still be in military service... he will go to court to worship, and his status will be
He calls himself a running dog and retreats to fight with his servants."
This is a private visit, and it would be even worse if it were a business trip to the Ministry of War.
As the saying goes, "When the general military officer receives the edict from the Ministry of War, he bows his head. If asked, he bows with a long bow, which is said to be non-physical."
It is not appropriate to just bow your head, you have to kowtow respectfully!
This is true for the commanders, ministers and soldiers, let alone the officers and soldiers of the guard, "even if they are alive, they can be used".
By accumulating slights and accumulating weakness, all the soldiers in the world will be unable to defend themselves in battle.
If things go on like this, they really have no fighting ability!
You can't use culture to suppress force like this.
Politically, it is properly tilted, not allowed to join the cabinet, institutionally it is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of War, and the official position is built in the camp and guard. These are all fine, and even if there are flaws, they can be gradually optimized.
But professional matters must be done professionally, and at the same time, they must be given normal powers within their scope of authority.
Participation in military matters must be given to others!
Since Wang Chonggu now intends to raise troops against the Tatars.
So we should take advantage of this opportunity to see if we can vacate a position for the governor of the capital camp among the more than thirty seats in the court.
Of course, in addition to elevating the status of military ministers.
A more practical use is that although the military ministers accept the dual leadership of the emperor and the Ministry of War, the court council is directly responsible to the emperor!
Once the military ministers enter the court meeting, the emperor can directly bypass the Ministry of War and command the Beijing camp in terms of procedures!
This is a major change in the system.
Finding a basis in etiquette and law is an insurmountable first step.
Ma Ziqiang also has a clear mind about this.
The emperor has done a lot of things in the capital this year.
First, Gu Huan, an old boss of the Beijing camp with rich military experience, was appointed as the governor-compared to Zhang Wubo, this man almost relied on his personal prestige in the army to command the soldiers and was not subject to the control of the Ministry of War.
Then, by sorting out the silver taels brought back from the Yanzheng Administration, they reissued the salary to the soldiers in the Beijing camp - more than 600,000 taels were used out of the 100,000 soldiers!
After that, the position of Minister of War to assist in military affairs became vacant, and Wang Chonggu was pushed into the cabinet to take charge of rotational garrison training in the Beijing camp.
Now he is even more nakedly standing up for the warriors and wants to push Gu Huan to the court.
It was precisely because Ma Ziqiang understood that he was even more hesitant.
This kind of thing is so embarrassing!
The snow fell harder and harder, and soon the ground was covered with a thin layer.
The emperor walked leisurely and walked under the eaves.
Ma Ziqiang followed the emperor and avoided the snow together.
After the two stood still, Ma Ziqiang finally couldn't help but said: "Your Majesty, I know very well that Your Majesty has a great heart for the world and is kind to both civil and military officials."
"But... there are specialties in the arts, and the court affairs involve promotion, wealth, etiquette, major work, and punishment. Military ministers may not be qualified for it."
This is a temptation.
Purely professional matters are all discussed by the ministry, and those discussed at the court are all overlapping matters between ministries and yamen.
The Ministry of War has never seen anyone who is not an examiner involved in the examination.
The only one who really wants to interfere in so many things is the cabinet!
Ma Ziqiang was more worried about the emperor's attitude between civil and military affairs, especially when Emperor Wuzong was like Emperor Wuzong, who allowed military ministers to influence major political affairs.
Zhu Yijun shook his wrist and put his cold hands into his sleeves: "Da Zongbo's words are reasonable and he specializes in his art."
"The military ministers are only allowed to participate in military affairs during court discussions. Except for major battles, promotion and demotion of headquarters, and other matters such as salary and silver, there is no need to attend the court."
This is a promise to Ma Ziqiang, and it is also a statement.
Whether you can attend the central meeting or not is a huge difference, and being able to participate in military discussions is an even bigger improvement.
Of course, if you think about it then, someone from the military will call Gu Huan to the court meeting.
Hearing this, Ma Ziqiang felt slightly relieved.
Still a little hesitant though.
He asked cautiously: "If that's the case, it would overlap with the powers of the Ministry of War."
Don't look at the fact that Jingying is nominally under the jurisdiction of the governor.
But in fact, there are many parties involved.
The Minister of the Ministry of War assists in military affairs, the Minister of Inspection inspects the nine sides of the capital camp, the censor of the right capital supervises the capital camp, and even when the minister of science and education inspects, he speaks better than the governor.
Now the emperor obviously intends to return the actual control of the Beijing camp to the governor.
If Wu Chen wants to eat at the table, there will definitely be many people scolding his mother.
But Zhu Yijun naturally thought about Ma Ziqiang's words.
Otherwise, he would not have asked Ma Ziqiang first if he had any etiquette support.
Zhu Yijun showed a hint of impatience: "Everyone should perform their duties."
"Uncle Da Zong, you might as well tell me first if there are any obstacles in the etiquette system?"
Regarding etiquette, in fact, any person from Zhongshushe can come up with a lot of established examples.
But plans are plans, and what is more important is the attitude of Ma Ziqiang and the Ministry of Rites - what Zhu Yijun wants now is an attitude.
Ma Ziqiang saw a hint of impatience on the emperor's face and knew that he needed to make a decision.
He quickly went through the history of the Beijing Camp, the personnel of the Ministry of War, and the emperor's words just now in his mind.
After a while.
Ma Ziqiang gritted his teeth and bowed down: "Your Majesty, this matter has its own precedent."
"At the beginning of the dynasty, there were many military ministers who also held central civil posts and participated in major national affairs."
"Tang He and Deng Yu also served as imperial censors. Li Shanchang, the Duke of South Korea, and Li Wenzhong, the Duke of Cao, jointly discussed important military and state affairs, and were in charge of Zhongshu Sheng and Yushitai."
"If those categories are special cases, then there is still the old system of Hongwu three years. When all ministers were awarded titles, they were all added to participate in military and state affairs, and they were both aware of military and state affairs. They also participated in military and state affairs."
"This is the law established by our ancestors."
After Ma Ziqiang finished speaking, he exhaled a breath of turbid air, which was extremely eye-catching on a cold winter day.
Zhu Yijun looked at Ma Ziqiang with relief and smiled.
He brushed away the snowflakes that had not yet melted from Ma Ziqiang's shoulders, helped him up, and praised him: "Dazong Boguo is a well-educated man, and he has all the etiquette and laws in his chest."
"In that case, how about we use Duoyan Wei's proposal and ask the Governor of the Jingying Camp to 'participate in the military affairs' and attend the court meeting?"
For a moment, Ma Ziqiang didn't know whether his decision was right or wrong.
I just responded casually.
Zhu Yijun nodded: "Then I will inform Wen Qing of the Ministry of Civil Affairs later and ask him to go to the Ministry of Rites to find the eldest uncle. Let's see how you can report this matter."
Ma Ziqiang hesitated for a moment, then bowed and accepted.
When it comes to changes in the official etiquette system, it is necessary for the two departments of etiquette and officials to come forward.
However, the emperor never mentioned the Ministry of War, apparently having made up his mind to leave the Ministry of War alone to settle the matter.
After the construction, successive emperors and the Ministry of War fought for the capital camp, which was a protracted process.
However, it has never been done before for military ministers to come to the court and participate in military affairs in a customized manner.
The little emperor's hand is stretching longer and longer!
While Ma Ziqiang was thinking, he resigned and left under the guidance of his ministers.
Zheng Zongxue, a member of Zhongshushe, looked at the departing Minister of Rites and the dazed emperor, and silently stopped writing.
He put his hand to his mouth and breathed a sigh of relief.
Before the little action was completed, the emperor's voice was heard.
"Zheng Qing, what do you think of this great uncle?"
Zheng Zongxue met the emperor's gaze and saw that the emperor was looking far away, so he also followed the emperor's gaze.
He looked at Ma Ziqiang's leaving figure, pondered for a moment, and then said: "Perfect and pure."
Zhu Yijun was speechless.
The more I thought about it, the funnier it became. I couldn't help but shake my head and repeat: "It's true that he is pure and pure."
After saying that, he glanced at Ma Ziqiang again, turned around and entered the gate of Anmin Factory.
…
The performance is just an interlude, and the visual reading must continue.
He even said that since Wang Chonggu intends to use troops against the three guards of Duoyan, he should take a closer look at his family background.
How can you safely start the war without checking the weapons and equipment to see what generation you are in?
Zhu Yijun stroked the steel giant under him and asked: "How many firearms does the Bingzhan Bureau produce each year now?"
The eunuch in charge of the Military War Bureau quickly replied: "Reporting to Your Majesty, there is no quota."
"During the Jiajing period, this bureau was built once every three years, using twenty-four thousand taels of silver. The number of firearms produced varied depending on the type and cost."
"In the forty-second year of Jiajing, the allotment of silver was reduced to sixteen thousand taels, and it was built every three years. It was changed to five years, and the money was stipulated to be built and exchanged every year."
"It was reduced to eight thousand three hundred taels in the third year of Longqing."
When Zhu Yijun heard this, he couldn't help but frown.
Logically speaking, as long as the war continues, military output will only increase.
Why does production keep shrinking?
Seeing that the emperor looked displeased, Zhang Hong on the side calmly explained: "Your Majesty, in addition to the War Bureau, the Ordnance Bureau also manufactures firearms."
"Moreover, the Ordnance Bureau is supervised by the Ambassador of the Ministry of War, and is co-managed by the director of the Camp, Factory and Industry Department. The six subjects are reviewed and tested, and the Ministry of Household Affairs also allocates silver taels from time to time."
"Its output is quite large, with tens of thousands of kilograms of gunpowder per year, more than 200,000 pieces of lead bullets, and 12,000 muskets."
"Gradually, the war situation slowed down."
When Zhu Yijun heard this, he suddenly realized.
To put it bluntly, the War and War Bureau is wholly owned by the inner court. Foreign ministers cannot enter and the business is not transparent. Even if the Ministry of War has production, they do not want to place orders at the War and War Bureau.
All production went to the Ordnance Bureau, a joint venture between foreign and domestic companies.
But...this is exactly what he wants!
He originally planned to let the War and Warfare Bureau branch conduct part of its business in scientific research.
If this is the case now, the entire bureau will be transformed.
The Ordnance Bureau manufactures it externally, and the Warfare Bureau develops it internally.
However, he did not throw the matter out directly, but stretched out his hand to summon the craftsmen. Just a moment later, the craftsman Zhu Yijun asked Wei Zhongde to call was already waiting nearby.
Wei Zhongde glared at several craftsmen fiercely and moved his lips, as if he was asking the craftsmen to take care of the emperor.
"And with me..."
Halfway through, Zhu Yijun remembered that there was a craftsman across from him, swallowed his words again, and changed his words: "What is the most important thing in firearms manufacturing now?"
Several craftsmen looked at each other.
Then a dark-skinned, short craftsman came out to answer: "Your Majesty, no matter the blunderbuss or the cannon, they are all used to push the bullets, and the blunderbuss is shot from a tube. When the blunderbuss tube is ejected, there must be no leaks in the blunderbuss body."
There is no deflection, the medicine does not leak out, and there is no obstruction when it is ejected..."
Um, I'm telling you plain things, but you're talking nonsense, right?
The level of craftsmen in the Ming Dynasty varied greatly.
Most of them spend their whole lives doing hundreds of jobs and speak simply and vulgarly.
But there are also a few who devote themselves to their studies, such as Xu Youzhen, the first assistant, and even Yan Song, who are all craftsmen.
The craftsmen in the internal supervision department are paid well and their quality is naturally higher.
However, the content of this craftsman's words was somewhat beyond Zhu Yijun's expectations.
He originally thought that the power of firearms was mostly limited by gunpowder.
Unexpectedly, it turned out to be a gun barrel...
Just listen to the craftsman continue to say: "Nowadays, there are many sand holes and slight depressions in the gun."
At this time, another craftsman suddenly interjected: "Yes, there are often blisters. I can't bore them like that."
"It would be great if ten tubes can become three!"
Zhu Yijun heard this and suddenly asked curiously: "Is the gun barrel made of copper or iron?"
The first craftsman spoke again: "Your Majesty, when smelting a gun, copper is the first priority, followed by iron. If iron is thicker than copper, it will not explode."
"For example, this French machine gun is made of fine copper, while the messenger cannon, short-hand gun, etc. are made of both raw and cooked copper."
Zhu Yijun nodded.
This is the industrial system.
Firearms are not just firearms, but also the overall industrial strength.
Iron smelting, copper smelting, mechanical structures, molds, gunpowder, etc., complement each other and restrain each other.
These industry problems cannot be solved by Zhu Yijun just by patting his head and memorizing a jingle.
You have to rely on technology accumulation!
Zhu Yijun sighed inwardly, and asked several craftsmen some technical questions about gunpowder, casting, and lathes.
The emperor had a fierce fight with the craftsmen.
The people from Zhongshu House on the side looked at him in shock.
He hesitated whether to admonish the emperor afterwards not to indulge in clever things.
Time passes slowly.
The heavy snow outside seems to be falling even harder.
Sometimes a cold wind blows into the factory, and everyone shrinks their necks in unison.
Zhu Yijun listened to the craftsman's explanation while flipping through the Bingzhan Bureau's firearms-making textbook.
"Using five materials together, fire virtue is the most effective. With the essence of Yinghuo and the balance of Suzaku, Xuanyuan creates laws to protect people's livelihood."
"..."
"One monarch and two ministers, gray and sulfur are both in the position of ministers. Gray is martial and sulfur is literary. If you attack illness, martial arts will bring you specialness. If you continue to explode violently, you will be literary and achieve extraordinary achievements."
"..."
Zhu Yijun shook his head.
This "Military Compilation" collects comprehensive information on military equipment from soldiers, officers, and craftsmen, and was written during the Jiajing period.
It can be said to be the highest theoretical summary of gunpowder production technology at this time.
However, this so-called highest achievement is still the work of craftsmen wrapped in a layer of Confucianism.
Among them, there are many ambiguities and contradictions in the "Five Elements Theory" and the "Monarch-Center Theory" about gunpowder.
Especially the Ying Huo Jing Qi and the Fire Fate and Wind Queen, it's like writing a novel.
Such Confucian scholars write a series of science and technology books and cannot provide business guidance to craftsmen. It is a small matter. It is a serious problem to distort the science and technology tree.
Zhu Yijun flipped through the remaining military books and sighed.
As the birthplace of gunpowder, it has always lacked innovation, not without reason.
The Ming Dynasty produced many theoretical achievements in firearm technology and a large number of military books.
However, they are often based on transcribing and summarizing previous experience, most of which contain the same content and very little innovation.
As for asking the craftsmen at the grassroots level about their experience?
Confucian scholars included it for you, and also used Confucian classics from a high position to help you summarize your techniques. This is already remarkable. Do you really want me to learn your techniques in depth?
Sorry, I disdain the weird skills!
After Zhu Yijun had a general understanding, he slowly closed the last military book.
He pondered for a long time and finally came up with a plan.
Zhu Yijun looked at the craftsmen he just led and asked, "What's your name?"
The craftsman's face was filled with joy, and he quickly fell to the ground and respectfully replied: "In answer to your Majesty's question, my name is Wang Liu."
Zhu Yijun nodded and didn't ask any more questions.
If the emperor can ask for his name, the people below should naturally know his attitude.
Zhu Yijun turned to look at Zhang Hong and ordered: "My dear friend, we will no longer accept batch castings from now on. We will instead specialize in firearms improvement, design experiments, and experience summarization."
"The allocation of funds is the same as in a school. The amount of money will be paid according to the expenses for the project. I will let the Ministry of Accounts and the Department of Science and Technology audit the accounts together. As for the results, I will personally check it."
As soon as he finished speaking, the expression of the eunuch who was in charge of the battle changed.
The department in charge is under the direct control of the boss, what should I do?
This was obviously not within the scope of the eunuch's consideration. Zhang Hong walked up to the emperor, listened respectfully to the emperor's follow-up, and seemed to accept everything he ordered.
Zhu Yijun paused and continued: "First, report a few topics according to the several directions of firearm improvement."
"Among them, gunpowder, gun tube structure, and iron-making optimization are ranked first."
"Similarly, if results are achieved, the craftsmen will teach them, and the ministers will reward and promote them according to the system."
"My dear friend, please draw up a charter as soon as possible."
The expressions of the people present were different.
Many of the craftsmen understood what the emperor meant and were overjoyed.
As for the eunuchs in the Bingzhan Bureau, their faces were worried.
Zhang Hong knelt down and said, "I'll do it now, slave."
Zhu Yijun nodded.
Suddenly he remembered something, looked at the craftsmen, and said: "From now on, you should stop reading these military books on the War and War Bureau. Just write one in plain language. If you write well, you will be rewarded."
After saying this, Zhu Yijun turned around and walked out of Anmin Factory regardless of everyone's strange expressions.
With this gesture, the leader's inspection was obviously over, and all the ministers quickly followed the emperor.
Zheng Zongxue, a member of Zhongshushe on the side, wrote the last stroke on the daily note before leaving the factory one step behind.
As soon as I walked out, I saw the snow getting heavier and heavier.
The entire Forbidden City was covered in white.
Zheng Zongxue wiped the snowflakes off his face and recalled the emperor's actions today.
I had an inexplicable feeling in my heart - His Majesty has intervened in military affairs more and more frequently, and his desire to engage in war is probably not half as strong as Wang Chonggu's.
So and so... In the spring of next year, there may really be a fight between the Ming Dynasty and the Tatars.
Chapter completed!