On the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, Zhu Cihong visited the Firearms Department in person.
When the emperor arrives, the Firearms Department is busy making arrangements.
As the first six departments directly under the yamen established after the emperor ascended the throne, the Department of Firearms has always adhered to the principle of thinking about what the emperor thinks and worrying about what the emperor is anxious about.
Unlike the Sixth Department, the Firearms Department has people working shifts even during the Chinese New Year.
This is not because Zhu Cixiang is not considerate of his subjects, but because the Firearms Department is too important, and the firearms it produces can play an important role in the fight against the Donglu.
However, the firearms department's firearms production has been unable to increase, barely enough to equip the Shence Army.
And this is definitely not possible.
Not to mention equipping the entire army, but at least the deployment rate of high-quality firearms must reach more than 50%.
Even if you work overtime, it will take at least a year to achieve this goal.
So it is normal to work shifts during the Chinese New Year.
However, Zhu Cixi also compensated the craftsmen who sacrificed their rest time and paid them three times the wages.
You get what you pay for, and clear rewards and punishments are the principles that Zhu Cixiang has always adhered to.
Of course, Zhu Cixiang's visit to the Firearms Department this time was not only to inspect and express condolences, but also to make arrangements for an important decision.
While picking up the driver, the Firearms Department immediately sent someone to notify Gao Hongtu, Minister of Industry.
As a direct official of the Firearms Department, he must be by his side at times like this.
After receiving the report, Gao Hongtu didn't care much and immediately ordered someone to prepare a sedan and rush to the Firearms Department.
Fortunately, the Firearms Department was not far from Gao Hongtu's residence, and he arrived in less than a stick of incense.
Hurrying to the government office, Gao Hongtu shook up his robe and walked in.
To be honest, he felt really uneasy.
Is it a good thing or a bad thing that the Emperor suddenly visits the Firearms Department during the Chinese New Year?
It is said that the power of God is unpredictable, and this is truly reflected in Jin Shang's body.
At first Gao Hongtu tried to speculate, but later gave up.
As a minister, it is better than anything else to do the errands assigned by the Holy Father conscientiously.
Gao Hongtu entered the government office to salute the emperor, and Zhu Cihong also gave the veteran minister a seat.
He is quite satisfied with Gao Hongtu.
Although this veteran's abilities are not as outstanding as those of Lu Zhenfei and Wen Anzhi, he at least knows how to work hard.
If you don't have enough talent and hard work to get it together, Zhu Cixiang will be satisfied as long as he can get things done.
"At the beginning of the new year, I asked Gao Qing to come to the Firearms Department to accompany me.
Gao Qing won't complain about me, right?"
Zhu Cixiang was in a good mood and said half-jokingly.
Gao Hongtu quickly raised his hands and said: "How dare you, veteran?
Your Majesty is so diligent in his work, and we ministers should work hard to share your worries."
This is not to flatter Gao Hongtu.
I have looked through all the kings of the Ming Dynasty to find out which one would deal with political affairs seriously during the Chinese New Year.
"The well-being of everyone in the world depends on me.
The sun and the moon are pressing on my shoulders.
I can't help but be industrious."
Zhu Cixiang sighed and continued: "I am here this time to discuss an important matter with Gao Qing."
"Your Majesty, please tell me.
I will do my best to handle it."
Gao Hongtu's heart sank.
The emperor came to the Firearms Department to discuss with him instead of at the Ministry of Works, indicating that the matter must be related to firearms.
"I want Gao Qing to do this."
As soon as Zhu Cixiang finished speaking, the personal chamberlain unfolded a simple diagram drawn with charcoal and handed it to Gao Hongtu.
After Gao Hongtu took it, he looked at it carefully and said in surprise: "What your Majesty is going to do is an enemy of ten thousand people."
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Zhu Cixiang nodded slightly: "What Gao Qing said is right.
What I want to do is very similar to what Gao Qing said about an enemy with ten thousand people, but with some improvements in details."
The firearms of the Ming Dynasty were very developed, not only in muskets and artillery, but also in various types of land mines and hand grenades.
There were many types of hand grenades in the Ming Dynasty, the most famous of which was the "Ten Thousand Enemies" mentioned by Gao Hongtu.
To make a 10,000-person enemy, you must first make a spherical shell from dry mud.
The spherical shell must be hollow.
Then a small hole was made in the shell and the gunpowder was poured into it.
Finally, connect the guide to the hole, and now a ten thousand enemy is completed.
Its usage is also very similar to that of a grenade.
Soldiers light the primer and quickly throw it at the enemy to cause damage.
It should be pointed out that due to the characteristics of black powder, it cannot produce as powerful an explosion as chemical gunpowder.
Therefore, enemies with ten thousand people rely more on burning to kill the enemy.
In addition to the enemy of ten thousand people, there was also a grenade in the Ming Dynasty called the "thief-attacking magic machine grenade".
Although its name is a little weird, its power is huge.
Unlike the casing made of dried mud by Ten Thousand Enemies, the casing of the Pomegranate is made of pig iron and is named because its shape resembles a pomegranate.
The cost of this item alone is much higher than that of the thief-killing machine pomegranate.
Like the Ten Thousand Enemies, the Thief-Striking Machine Pomegranate also has a small hole in its shell, also for loading gunpowder.
When used, it is also thrown into the enemy formation to cause damage.
It should be pointed out that the explosive power of the thief-killing pomegranate is stronger than that of ten thousand enemies.
This is probably because in addition to gunpowder, there are many broken porcelain and tiles mixed inside.
The effect is similar to that of the squatting tiger cannon.
However, neither the thief-killing grenade nor the tens of thousands of enemies could meet Zhu Cixiang's requirements.
What Zhu Cixiang wanted to do was to make the grenades standardized, just like customized gunpowder.
Zhu Cihong gave Gao Hongtu a brief introduction to the use of grenades and some key points in the production process.
Gao Hongtu nodded frequently.
This is also the reason why Zhu Cixiang is willing to reuse Gao Hongtu.
Leaders don’t have to be technical, but they must learn with an open mind.
The officials of the Ming Dynasty, especially the officials in the capital, were all high-spirited and had their nostrils turned to the sky.
It's rare to find people like Gao Hongtu who are willing to learn with an open mind.
"I heard your Majesty's description.
It seems that this new type of enemy is not difficult to make.
I will order people to trial-produce it and report to Your Majesty as soon as it is completed."
Zhu Cixiang nodded slightly and said: "In addition to this, I also hope that Gao Qing will make some explosives in large quantities."
The so-called bomb is similar to the land mine of later generations.
It is a step-fired land mine with a shell made of pig iron.
Its appearance is not much different from that of Ten Thousand Enemies, but when used, several explosive cannons are connected in series and buried underground.
When used, the fire wires of several explosives are connected in parallel to the fire tank where the steel wheel fires, and then a long wire is led from it to the ground.
The long wire is buckled on the surface.
If the long wire is triggered by enemy cavalry or soldiers passing by, the steel wheel will trigger the ignition device and trigger a series of bomb explosions, causing damage to the enemy.
The reason why Zhu Cixiang wanted the Firearms Department to mass-produce explosives was to deal with the Eight Banners cavalry.
If such land mines are laid in advance on the only way the Eight Banners cavalry must pass, they will definitely be able to exert great power.
Compared with the enemy of ten thousand people, the explosive cannon needs less improvement and can be directly mass-produced.
Therefore, Zhu Cihong was going to set a deadline for Gao Hongtu, and the task must be completed within the deadline
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