Yongli Ming Dynasty

Chapter 24: Macau
In the study of the palace, Zhu Lang glanced at the memorial on the desk, picked up the teacup and took a sip.

Yesterday, October 8, the officials of Zhaoqing completed the second round of persuasion. This memorial is the one they presented.
If we follow the convention, the next time Zhu Lang is asked to ascend the throne will be when Zhu Lang officially becomes regent.

Zhu Lang narrowed his eyes slightly. He had met Chen Bangyan on the fourth day of October. Calculating the time, Chen Bangyan should have returned to Guangzhou by now. If Chen Bangyan could successfully convince Su Guansheng, then Su Guansheng's people should be on their way to Zhaoqing now.

In other words, Su Guansheng should be able to arrive in Zhaoqing before the third persuasion, attend Zhu Lang's regent ceremony, and have a position as a minister who makes decisions.
With this status and Zhu Lang's favoritism, Su Guansheng has a high probability of occupying a position in the six ministries of the new dynasty. This is also Zhu Lang's first nail into the previous dynasty.
Li Guoyong saw Zhu Lang's excited expression and knew that Zhu Lang was in a good mood. Seeing Zhu Lang put down his teacup and stretched, his eyes flashed and he spoke
"Is the prince's firearm really that powerful?"

"Firearms are powerful, why do you want to study firearms?" Zhu Lang glanced at Li Guoyong who was standing beside him.

"I am already satisfied with serving the prince in my life. How can I have the ability to study firearms?"

"It's just that I noticed that the prince seemed to attach great importance to firearms. I just happened to know someone who was also an official in the palace."

"This man's name is Pang Tianshou, and he knows a lot about firearms. If the prince is interested, he can call him to learn more about it," Li Guoyong said nervously.
Li Guoyong swallowed his saliva. This was the first time he openly recommended someone to Zhu Lang. He was a little nervous, but there was nothing he could do. The man offered too much.

Zhu Lang narrowed his eyes and quickly searched the list in his memory. He found that he had a vague impression of Pang Tianshou's name.
Although he remembered Pang Tianshou's name, it was not a good thing for him to be recorded in his little notebook.

Zhu Lang did not remember the specific deeds of this man, but he vaguely remembered that Pang Tianshou was a treacherous minister in the Yongli Dynasty of his previous life.
"How much money did you receive from them?"

Zhu Lang took a look at Li Guoyong in front of him and suddenly spoke softly

"Please forgive me, my lord. I know I was wrong, and I will never do it again."

When Li Guoyong heard Zhu Lang's words, his face turned pale. He thought he had found a very good excuse, but he didn't expect Zhu Lang to see that he had accepted the money.

Li Guoyong knelt on the ground with a sad face, feeling extremely regretful. Why couldn't he control his hands at that time?

"Why are you kneeling? Didn't I tell you to keep collecting the money and dancing? Tell me how much money you got back?"

Zhu Lang glanced at Li Guoyong on the ground, but did not let him get up. Instead, he continued
"Five hundred taels," Li Guoyong said dejectedly.
"Not bad, it doesn't disgrace your status as the chief steward of the Gui Palace. When I become the regent, the price will have to go up again," Zhu Lang said softly, stroking his chin.
"Your Majesty, I will never dare to do that again. I will return the silver right now."

Seeing that Zhu Lang did not look angry, Li Guoyong quickly said
"What are you returning? If others dare to give, why don't you dare to accept it?"

"Just remember what I said at the beginning, where did Pang Tianshou come from? Have you figured it out yourself?"

Zhu Lang stared at Li Guoyong on the ground with a slightly cold look. He didn't care if Li Guoyong took the money, but he needed Li Guoyong to take his orders to heart first and take the money clearly. This was also one of Zhu Lang's important sources of intelligence.
If Li Guoyong is really greedy for money and takes the money without any care, then he will not be able to make much use of it in the future and can only be left idle.

Li Guoyong felt his heart tighten when he heard Zhu Lang's cold voice. He immediately said

"Yes, I have already found out everything."

"This Pang Tianshou was originally a eunuch in the Imperial Horse Administration during the Longwu Dynasty. A year ago, he was ordered by the late emperor to secretly go to Haojing to buy firearms from the Red Barbarians on the island, and negotiate with the Red Barbarian leader to recruit a group of soldiers." "But just after arriving in Haojing, he received the news that the late emperor was in trouble, so Pang Tianshou had to return with the dozens of Red Barbarians he had recruited. Now Pang Tianshou is in Zhaoqing City."

Zhu Lang was stunned for a moment when he heard Li Guoyong say the word "Haojing". After thinking for a while, he finally remembered what "Haojing" was.

"Macau, Bugalo Cannon Factory"

Zhu Lang suddenly stood up, with a sharp light flashing in his eyes.

The so-called Haojing was the old name of Macau in the Ming Dynasty. Zhu Lang knew nothing about Macau at that time, but the only thing he remembered was that there was an extremely advanced artillery factory in Macau.
The Baccarat Cannon Factory in Haojing was built by the Portuguese Baccarat. Its cannon casting level is considered very advanced even in Europe today. During the Chongzhen period, the red cannons shipped to Liaodong by the Ming Dynasty were cast by the Baccarat Cannon Factory.

If the records of the previous life are correct, the artillery produced by this Bugalao Artillery Factory was not only sold to China and Southeast Asia, but some were even sold back to Europe on ships. It is not an exaggeration to say that it is the largest arms manufacturer in Southeast Asia today.
Since Zhu Lang decided to develop firearms, he has been eyeing the Bugalao Cannon Factory. If he wants to quickly equip firearms, what could be faster than directly incorporating an arms company?

However, he is currently in Zhaoqing, and the situation in the court is complicated. His top priority is to seize power, so he can only postpone the matter of the Macau Cannon Factory.
But he didn't expect that he didn't take care of the artillery factory, but the artillery factory crashed into him instead.
Zhu Lang's current situation is completely different from the first time he persuaded him to ascend the throne. He has now obtained Li Mingzhong's superficial allegiance, and Su Guansheng is also likely to join him.

In other words, Zhu Lang now not only has soldiers, but also controls the silver in Guangzhou's treasury. With soldiers and silver, the next step is to strengthen the army and horses.

If the records in the previous life are correct, the Qing army will invade Guangdong soon after Yongli becomes the regent. In other words, if Zhu Lang does not want to give up Guangdong Province soon, he will soon face the front of the Qing army.
Zhu Lang couldn't even grasp the situation in the court, let alone gather craftsmen to make guns and cannons.

But if he can't make it, he can buy it.
Guangzhou's treasury had money, and the Aobujialao artillery factory had cannons. As long as they quickly purchased and equipped a batch of firearms before the Qing army invaded, they could greatly enhance the Ming army's combat effectiveness.

Apart from anything else, if we just buy one or two hundred cannons and put a few on the top of each city wall in Guangdong Province, it will greatly increase the difficulty of the Qing army's siege.

Thinking of this, Zhu Lang couldn't help but get excited. If he could lead Li Mingzhong and others to defeat the Qing army that invaded Guangdong Province this time, he wouldn't even have to defeat them. As long as he could repel them and make them return, he could truly win the hearts of the people inside and outside the government by relying on his record of defending Guangdong Province.
After half a year of Hongguang's reign, the Qing army captured Nanjing. After one year of Longwu's reign, the Qing army captured Fujian Province and he died in Tingzhou. The entire Ming Dynasty had been in a state of disarray since three years ago, without a single victory.
If Zhu Lang can turn the tide and repel the Qing army at this time, he will be the real revival leader of the Ming Dynasty in everyone's eyes. This is the real trend of the times. At that time, no matter what Zhu Lang wants to do, I am afraid no one will dare to question it easily.
"Get up. If someone gives you money, take it. You did a good job this time. Do the same for similar things in the future."

Zhu Lang gave Li Guoyong a word, and then continued to speak.

"Go, bring Pang Tianshou here, and also the leader of the Yi people mercenaries. I have something to ask you."

Li Guoyong heaved a sigh of relief when he saw Zhu Lang's expression ease up. He stood up from the ground, responded, and hurried out of the room.

Li Guoyong stood there and gently closed the study door, then he breathed a sigh of relief.
He wiped his forehead, only to find that it was already covered with sweat, and his back was also soaked with cold sweat.

"Because of this matter of Mr. Pang, I was scolded by the prince. From now on, you will pay me five hundred taels. Don't even think about letting me do this kind of thing again." Li Guoyong's face was full of hatred.

It was also because of his lack of experience that he only accepted 500 taels of silver. He was the chief steward of the Gui Palace and the future ninth thousand year old Gui Regent. Could he be worth only 500 taels of silver?

Li Guoyong looked angry, but remembering Zhu Lang's order, he did not dare to neglect it. He hurried to the front yard, ready to invite Pang Tianshou into the mansion.
For the sake of that old official Pang, Li Guoyong had taken on such a huge responsibility this time. Shouldn't he also express his gratitude? If this old official Pang really didn't know what was good for him, he, Li, would never be able to do anything for him again.

(End of this chapter)