I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

Late April of the ninth year of the Wanli reign.

The lists of redundant officials and bureaucrats to be dismissed in various provincial administrations of the Ming Dynasty were successively sent to the capital.

Because of the exemplary actions taken by the two capitals, the local areas implemented them quite thoroughly, with minor flaws but no major problems.

at the same time.

Due to the lack of rain in spring, the prefectures of Huaifeng in Jiangbei and Suzhou and Songjiang in Jiangnan were successively hit by drought, and some people even ate tree bark to fill their stomachs.

After the imperial censors who inspected the local areas reported to the court, they did not wait for the cabinet to submit a memorial.

Emperor Wanli then ordered that silver and grain be mobilized from the granaries of various prefectures and counties in Southern Zhili to relieve the people, and that local officials who shirked their responsibilities, evaded responsibility, or embezzled relief funds be severely punished.

Afterwards, the young Wanli Emperor took the initiative to request that the palace reduce its expenses and cut rewards to outsiders. The annual gold and silver allowances for the palace were always paid in advance by local authorities.

This was exactly what Zhang Juzheng and other ministers had hoped to see. They immediately submitted a memorial praising the young Wanli Emperor, stating: "Your Majesty's actions promise a prosperous future for the Ming Dynasty."

When Shen Nian learned of Xiao Wanli's actions, she simply smiled faintly.

Throughout history, no emperor has been ignorant of how to be a wise ruler, but the supreme imperial power made it difficult for them to exercise self-discipline and caused them to inevitably fall into depravity.

The young Wanli Emperor was actually very clever.

His current actions are clearly intended to prove to the officials that he has the ability to rule personally.

Shen Nian hoped that he could remain virtuous and kind forever. If his temperament suddenly changed after he took over the reins of power, it would be a catastrophe for the world.

This reminded Shen Nian of the Longqing Emperor.

Before ascending the throne, he appeared virtuous and refined, but after taking the throne, he did nothing but despicable things.

……

On the third day of the fifth month, after the morning court session, Shen Nian was summoned for a private audience.

Inside the Wenhua Hall.

Xiao Wanli looked at Shen Nian and said, "Minister Shen, the first batch of students from the Jingwu Academy have been training there for two years. It's time for them to be sent out. Do you have any ideas on how to send them out?"

When Jingwu Academy was founded.

The regulations stipulate that all trainees will undergo two years of training at the academy, three years of service in local areas, and upon graduation after five years, they will be issued the Elite Military Guard token and promoted to important military positions based on merit.

Shen Nian stepped forward, bowed, and clasped her hands in greeting.

"Your Majesty, I have an idea, but it has not yet been formalized into a memorial!"

"There's no need to report the matter of the Jingwu Academy in writing. Shen Nian, just speak freely, and I will make the decision on your behalf!" said the young Wanli Emperor.

Emperor Wanli (Xiao Wanli) attached great importance to the Jingwu Academy.

Apart from Shen Nian, the deputy head instructor of Jingwu Academy, the other four members of the cabinet had no authority to inquire about or control the affairs of Jingwu Academy.

Shen Nian paused for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, I believe that since the Jingwu Academy is training generals and commanders, then when we send them out to other places, we should disperse all eight hundred or so people."

"I believe that the current eight guards can be divided into two guards going to the East China Sea, one guard going to the northern border, one guard going to the northwest, one guard going to the southwest, one guard serving as an instructor, and two guards going to the northeast. Once they arrive in their respective areas, all the trainees should be dispersed and their identities as students of the Jingwu Academy should be concealed. They should start as junior officers and senior officers to undergo training. After that, the trainees should report their personal experiences and local conditions to the court every three months for a period of three years... After the term, the best will be selected to serve in important military positions!"

Upon hearing this, the young Wanli Emperor understood Shen Nian's arrangement.

Those who went to the East China Sea were to protect the maritime trade of the Ming Dynasty; those who went to the northern border were to quell the various Mongol tribes in the north; those who went to the northwest were to prevent border generals from rebelling; those who went to the southwest were to guard against the Tusi uprising; those who went to the northeast were to defend against the Jurchen forces; and those who stayed at the academy to teach were needed to instruct the second batch of students.

"I understand the deeper meaning behind Shen Qingzhi's arrangements, but isn't it a bit too tough to have them start from the ranks of junior officers and commanders? Some of the trainees were originally centurions or commanders!"

The young Wanli Emperor planned to appoint the sent-down students as commanders of a thousand households, and then have them train local soldiers to improve military strength.

"Your Majesty, if they are truly capable, according to the current regulations for the promotion of military officers, they could easily become a commander of a thousand within three years based on their military merits."

"A general must understand the hardships of the local people and the difficulties faced by the soldiers at the grassroots level. Although they carry the aura of being the 'Emperor's personal guard,' they should not be promoted based on this aura, but rather on their individual abilities. I believe that these people, when united, are a blazing fire, and when scattered, they are countless stars. Otherwise, they would not be worthy of Your Majesty's cultivation!"

"Together they are a blazing fire, scattered they are countless stars? A perfect analogy! A perfect analogy!" Little Wanli looked at Shen Nian and said, "Minister Shen, you are my Zhang Zifang. Regarding the matter of sending students out to other places, follow this strategy and try to send all the students out by May, and then start recruiting new students at the same time!"

"Furthermore, this matter is initiated in the name of the Jingwu Academy. You and the Duke of England will report directly to me. The Ministry of War is responsible for appointing soldiers, so you can handle it entirely without consulting the Five Armies Commandery or the Cabinet."

"As you command!" Shen Nian bowed.

The young Wanli Emperor's words clearly indicated his intention to seize all future military power for himself.

A moment later, Shen Nian left the Wenhua Hall.

The young Wanli Emperor was in a very good mood, and when no one was around, he couldn't help but hum a little tune.

As the emperor, there were certain things he couldn't say to anyone, including Shen Nian.

In his view, the key to the stability of the Ming Dynasty was not the support of the people or the presence of virtuous officials, but the supreme imperial power, which no one dared to contradict.

He craved imperial power and longed to issue commands to the world without any hindrance, just like the founding emperor and his grandfather, eliminating all those who threatened imperial power.

Only in this way could he become an emperor who controlled everything.

……

The next day.

Shen Nian and the British Duke then began preparing for the transfer of Jingwu Academy students to other places.

Who is suitable to go to the North, who is suitable to go to the East China Sea, who is suitable to go to the Northwest, and who is suitable to go to the Southwest are all matters that require careful selection.

...May 14th, afternoon.

Busy with the matters concerning the placement of students from the Jingwu Academy, Shen Nian put aside what he was doing and went to the training ground of the Ministry of War's Firearms Battalion in the southern suburbs of the capital.

That's why it's in such a hurry.

This was because Wang Yi'e, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, informed Shen Nian that Zhao Shizhen, an instructor in the firearms battalion, had improved a new type of firearm.

After a while.

Accompanied by Wang Yi'e, Shen Nian saw the new firearms improved by Zhao Shizhen.

Upon seeing Shen Nian, Zhao Shizhen immediately knelt down and bowed, saying, "This humble official greets Grand Secretary Shen!"

Because of Shen Nian's false accusation, Zhao Shizhen was eager to prove himself, so he stayed up for several nights and, with the help of several craftsmen, improved a new firearm.

"No need for formalities, let's first explain the improvements, then I'll demonstrate!" Shen Nian said decisively.

Immediately, Zhao Shizhen stood up, picked up a musket about six feet long from the side, and said, "This musket is six feet long and weighs five catties. It is an improvement made by me based on the breech-loading method of cannons. Because its rate of fire is as fast as lightning, I named it the Lightning Cannon."

"Currently, the main individual firearms used by the Shenji Battalion and the border troops are muzzle-loading smoothbore matchlock guns, also known as arquebuses, and three-barreled handguns that can be used as hammers, also known as three-barreled pistols. Arquebuses have a long range and high accuracy, making them suitable for long-range shooting, but they are slow to reload in close combat; three-barreled pistols are fierce in close combat, but they lack sustained firepower and are more difficult to withstand wind and rain."

"This breech-loading musket uses breech-loading magazines, allowing for alternating firing. It is ignited by a percussion flintlock mechanism, unaffected by wind or rain… Each musket can be equipped with five or six magazines. The brass disc design here prevents gunpowder leakage, avoiding eye burns…"

……

Shen Nian listened very attentively.

It is basically understood that compared with the current bird guns and three-barreled guns, this electric musket has a faster rate of fire, an ignition method that is not afraid of wind and rain, prevents gas leakage, and has strong continuous firepower.

If used in conjunction with melee weapons, its lethality will be far greater than that of a musket or a three-barreled gun.

Say it.

Zhao Shizhen then demonstrated.

Bang!Bang!Bang!
streaks of fire shot out instantly, striking the straw figure in front.

The rate of fire is indeed very fast, and because it is fired by friction between the trigger and the hammer containing flint, it is even simpler to operate.

Shen Nian's interest was piqued, and she called out loudly, "Come on, let me try!"

Swish!
Wang Yi'e, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, quickly stepped in front of Shen Nian and said, "Grand Secretary Shen, you mustn't! What if the barrel explodes and injures you? That would be terrible!"

Firearms frequently exploded, and some soldiers even had half of their ears blown off.

Shen Nian ignored Wang Yi'e and looked at Zhao Shizhen, saying, "Zhao Shizhen, can I try?"

Zhao Shizhen puffed out his chest and said, "I can try it. If it's not safe, I absolutely won't dare to present it and make a fool of myself!"

A smile immediately appeared on Shen Nian's face, and she said, "I believe you!"

Wang Yi'e, standing to the side, thought for a moment and said, "Let me try it too!"

Wang Yi'e was quite clever. If Shen Nianruo had an accident while testing the firearms, and he was unharmed, the young Wanli Emperor and the other four Grand Secretaries would have scolded him to death. If he had tried it together, his sins would have been greatly reduced.

A few moments.

Shen Nian and Wang Yi'e each held a stun gun and aimed it at the straw man target a few feet away.

The two men aimed at the target and pulled the triggers almost simultaneously.

Bang!Bang!Bang!
Several streaks of fire flew out.

Shen Nian and Wang Yi'e were both shaken by the recoil of the firearms, and each fired five shots, three of which missed the target.

However, both of them were very happy, as using this firearm posed no danger whatsoever, and its firepower far surpassed that of the musket and the three-barreled gun.

Seeing the smiles on their faces, Zhao Shizhen breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Grand Secretary Shen, this firearm has many advantages, but it also has a disadvantage."

Shen Nian glanced at the lightning gun in his hand and said, "It's quite expensive to manufacture, isn't it?"

“Yes, the manufacturing cost of the electric musket is much higher than that of the bird gun and the three-shot musket!” Zhao Shizhen replied.

Shen Nian thought for a moment and said, "Later, you will draft a detailed expense list and give it to me. Then make twenty more, making sure they are of the same quality as today. I want to send them to the border so that the border generals can try them out and evaluate them. If they are all well-received, I will request His Majesty to mass-produce them. As for the cost, I will figure it out. As long as it is a good product, it can be mass-produced!"

Hear this.

Wang Yi'e, Zhao Shizhen, and the firearms battalion instructor standing to the side were all very excited.

In the past, many inventions and creations were actually hampered by cost.

But Shen Nian's words convinced them that even if the inner court and the national treasury were broke, Shen Nian could still find a way to make money.

This Grand Secretary Shen has always kept his word and has never disappointed anyone.

"Subordinate to obey!"

Zhao Shizhen bowed deeply, and upon joining the Ministry of War, he experienced the feeling of "being on top of the world" for the first time. In his mind, there were also diagrams of various new types of firearms. Once they were all tested, the combat effectiveness of the Ming soldiers would surely be further enhanced, and he might also go down in history because of these inventions.

Shen Nian thought for a moment and then added, "All inventions of firearms must be kept secret. Not a single diagram can be leaked. If anyone tries to use this for personal gain, I will kill him with a musket before even using the Ming Dynasty law to punish him!"

Shen Nian's expression was serious as he brandished the electric musket in his hand.

The surrounding instructors quickly cupped their hands and said, "Your Excellency will keep this in mind and will certainly not allow military secrets to be leaked!" (End of Chapter)