The First Uncle of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 81 Fishing Law Enforcement
Zhu Yuanzhang was a man with strong execution ability. Since Ma Xun was able to blow the bow so skillfully, he naturally wanted to see it for himself.

He Da and others carried a few crude bows to the training ground. Many people were surprised and curious when they saw the real things.

Zhu Biao looked at the arrows and immediately joked, "Uncle, now I understand why they say these arrows can penetrate people."

Compared with ordinary arrows, the arrows made by Ma Xun were more than one circle larger, and the arrow shafts were thick and long, which were not comparable to ordinary arrows.

Zhu Yuanzhang also smiled and said, "No wonder you need such a big bow. You can't shoot it with an ordinary bow."

Ma Xun explained, "Brother-in-law, I also know the advantages and disadvantages of this bow. It can shoot heavy arrows and is stable. The only problem is that it can't shoot very far and the speed is slow, not as good as traditional arrows."

Zhu Yuanzhang, a horse emperor, naturally understood and asked, "What do you think?"

"I don't know that much, but I also know that light bows and fast bows have long range and fast speed, but if my bow is at a distance of forty steps, it can nail both people and horses to death." Ma Xun said, "Fire guns are slow and inaccurate, so use them together."

Although firearms have been developed for many years, there are still some problems with the aiming and the range is somewhat insufficient.

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and said, "You are right to think so. This bow looks powerful in close combat."

Following Zhu Yuanzhang's order, the guards in Ma Xun's mansion began to draw their bows and arrows and started to test shooting.

Zhu Di's eyes lit up. These bows were big, but the arrows were really thick. If the enemy got close to them on the battlefield, they would be nailed to the ground with their armor.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at it and suddenly laughed, "You are right, this thing will be very useful on the battlefield."

Whether a weapon is useful or not also depends on the person using it and whether it is suitable for the battlefield environment. The bows that Ma Xun made are unlikely to become decisive battlefield weapons, but they will be a supplement to the weapons of the Ming army.

Ma Xiuying became proud, "If this is matched with the soldiers of the Ming Dynasty, it will be difficult for the Tartars to get close to us."

Close combat is inevitable, but when it happens, just shoot and kill.

This is also a step-by-step approach, with bows and crossbows, horse archery, musket scattering, etc. These are all things before joining the formation. It is not so easy to rush to the front of the formation easily.

Ma Xun started to talk nonstop, and started to show off his sword in front of Guan Gong, "Brother-in-law, don't we have cannons? Let's fire a round of cannons first. Even if they can't kill anyone, they can at least scare them. When the arrows and crossbows are fired and the Tartars rush to us, I can fire another round of heavy bows, and the infantry won't have to do anything."

Zhu Yuanzhang and Ma Xiuying looked at each other and smiled without saying anything. They all knew that Ma Xun could not fight and had no knowledge of military affairs.

Zhu Di wanted to speak, but Zhu Biao smiled and shook his head to stop him, saying that there was no need to attack his uncle.

Ma Xun then said, "I know that fire guns are slow to load, can't shoot far, and have difficulty maintaining firepower. I will arrange three teams. The first team will shoot and then retreat to reload bullets and charge powder. The second team on standby will catch up and shoot again, and the third team will fill in the formation."

Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned for a moment, then his eyes lit up, "Yes, this is a good idea!"

"That's what I thought, too. Three-stage fire. This way the firepower is continuous, and it's hard for the enemy to rush in all at once." Ma Xun also said quickly, "If we encounter an enemy, the musket won't just fire one round and then have to fight in close combat."

Although the fire guns of the Ming Dynasty were already very powerful in that era, the continuity of firepower was not strong enough. So after firing one or two rounds with the fire gun, they had to use swords to kill the enemy, and the fire gun soldiers also carried swords.

Ma Xun suddenly felt sorry for Mu Ying. The three-stage attack was a tactical shooting method that he improved when he felt that the speed of gunpowder loading was too slow during the battle of Luchuan.

Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly said to Ma Xiuying with some regret, "I was delayed. If I had come back a few years earlier, I could have taught him how to fight. Now his temper has settled down, so I can't teach him."

Ma Xiuying didn't feel too sorry, "He can't be a general, he's too cautious."

Zhu Di became excited. "Father, mother, if we really follow what my uncle said, it will be difficult for the enemy to get close. In a field battle, the enemy will surely suffer heavy casualties if they charge into the battle line."

"Fourth Brother, this matter cannot be calculated in this way." Zhu Yuanzhang explained with a smile, "What your uncle said is not wrong, but this method can be used, but first of all, the soldiers must be trained well. Go back and see the army, this method of warfare cannot be used on everyone."

Zhu Biao helped explain, "We need elite soldiers and strong generals, and officers who can command the soldiers to obey orders. Although the Ming army is invincible, not all soldiers are elite and strong."

Zhu Yuanzhang said with more satisfaction, "Biao'er is right. The tactics your uncle said are useful. But they cannot be applied to every garrison. You must know the abilities of your soldiers and then arrange the tactics when the time comes."

This was said to the ten-year-old Zhu Di, and also to Ma Xun, who had only a superficial understanding of military affairs.

Ma Xiuying smiled and said, "Little brother, you don't need to worry too much about making bows. Ask around later. There are many bow-making craftsmen in the army. Let them take over."

Zhu Yuanzhang also smiled and nodded. This bow is a good bow and has great uses. However, it is time for the court to take over. The Grand Military Governor's Office will arrange production, equipment and training.

As for Ma Xun, the uncle of the emperor, he doesn't need to worry about burning bridges after crossing the river. He originally handed over the invention to the court, and now he can be considered to have completed his mission and retired. Don't think about patent fees at this time, Ma Xun didn't make a fortune from those things.

Zhu Yuanzhang was still pleased, "Bao'er can win the battle, and I can also help make weapons. Our relatives are all capable!"

Zhu Biao immediately said, "My uncle has also figured out a boxing technique, and he said it will be good for both my mother and me."

Zhu Yuanzhang was even more concerned now. Ma Xiuying and Zhu Biao's illnesses were like a huge weight on his heart.

Ma Xun also quickly explained, "It's just a way to keep fit. Although I can't do strenuous exercise, I still have to move when I need to. Sitting for a long time is not good, so I thought of some simple ways."

Zhu Biao followed suit and said, "From what my uncle said, it is similar to the Five Animal Exercises. Mother and uncle should practice more when the time comes, so that we can all live to be over a hundred years old."

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled happily and said, "Well, they have lived for more than a hundred years, they are all old monsters."

Ma Xun settled down in the palace again. It was not a matter of whether he was willing or not. He would just stay for a few days anyway.

He was also not idle, and continued to improve the development of the Qing bow. But now it can't be called the Qing bow, it should be called the Ming bow.

There are many different schools of Tai Chi, but Ma Xun's is obviously the kind that keeps you healthy. Li Zhen and Ma Xiuying both practice a little when they have nothing to do, and Zhu Biao also does it in the East Palace when he has nothing to do. "A big watermelon, cut in half in the middle."

Zhu Biao came to the courtyard happily, "Uncle, mother asked aunt to come over."

Ma Xun quickly said to Liu Shuning, "If you are offered another reward, don't accept it."

Liu Shuning knew what was going on, but sometimes you couldn't just refuse if you wanted to. She could also sense some of the feelings of the emperor and empress. Ma Xun didn't want anything, but the emperor and empress wanted to give him everything, fearing that Ma Xun would be wronged.

After Liu Shuning left, Zhu Biao asked, "Uncle, do you know the situation in the Secretariat?"

Ma Xun nodded and said, "I know a little bit. Prime Minister Li has retired, Wang Guangyang was impeached and dismissed from office, and now Yang Xian is fighting with Hu Weiyong. Those people in eastern Zhejiang are also worrying."

Zhu Biao smiled and said, "Although Prime Minister Li has retired, he still cares about the affairs of the court."

Ma Xun didn't know what to say for a moment. Li Shanchang was still reluctant to give up his power. Although he had retired and returned to his hometown, he still kept a close eye on the movements in the court.

His hometown was close to the capital, and he often exchanged letters with Hu Weiyong or kept in touch with his former subordinates.

Zhu Biao continued, "When Prime Minister Li retired, the court also promoted his younger brother Li Cunyi to the position of Imperial Household Secretary, and now he is also traveling around a lot."

Ma Xun said cautiously, "I don't have much contact with the Secretariat, and I don't visit my father-in-law that often, let alone talk about these political affairs."

"Uncle, you are worrying again." Zhu Biao said with a smile, "Father and mother are complaining that although Prime Minister Li has retired, he is still reluctant to give up power. They are also dissatisfied with Yang Xian, who seems to have changed into a different person and forgets everything once he gains power."

Not only Zhu Yuanzhang and Ma Xiuying were puzzled, Zhu Biao was also very puzzled. They all knew Yang Xian, but now that he had defeated Li Shanchang and Wang Guangyang, he had suddenly become very arrogant, and was no longer the same as he was a few years ago.

Seeing Ma Xun's confusion, Zhu Biao smiled and said, "The imperial court's northern expedition is almost successful, but there are many casualties. Logically, we should also build a temple to commemorate this."

This is also a routine operation. Zhu Yuanzhang built many temples for meritorious officials. The temples for meritorious officials are still the temples for meritorious officials. There is also a temple for meritorious officials on Jiming Mountain, which was built last year. The dead are enshrined in statues, and the living are left empty.

The main hall of the current Temple of Heroes contains Xu Da, Chang Yuchun and others, but their seats remain vacant while they are alive.

Hu Dahai, Zhao Desheng in the west sequence, Geng Zaicheng, Zhang Desheng and others in the east sequence now have statues to commemorate them.

There is also a Temple of Meritorious Officials in Nanchang, Jiangxi, which commemorates the soldiers who died in the battle against Chen Youliang.

Ma Xun was a little confused. "The Northern Expedition has basically completed its mission, and they are planning to build a temple for the heroes in Beiping, and want me to go and offer sacrifices?"

Zhu Biao smiled and said, "We started building the Temple of Meritorious Officials last year, but in the past, my father would go to offer sacrifices in person during wars. Now that politics are complicated, we can't let the soldiers down. After all, my uncle is the Right Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Commandery, so it would be best to petition the emperor to go to Beiping in person to pay tribute to the dead soldiers."

Ma Xun looked at Zhu Biao and thought that there was nothing wrong with paying tribute to the dead soldiers. It was a natural thing to do.

It is understandable that the emperor is unable to attend in person sometimes because he is too far away. In that case, he can just send royal relatives as representatives and no one will complain.

But no matter how you look at it now, it's a sting operation, which will make the fire in the Secretariat burn even more fiercely!
Zhu Biao was still the same as before, smiling brightly and cheerfully, like a modest gentleman.

(End of this chapter)