Zhu Yuanzhang Returns from Modern Times

Chapter 257 Nuclear Bomb
Liu Bowen was stunned. He had already made preparations for his son to be promoted and sent to Jiangxi to be in charge of the land survey.

After all, in his view, the opportunity to rise to power was likely just waiting for them to come to them.

Who would have thought that the final result would be like this!

The person in charge wouldn't even let their own son go there!
This... was truly beyond his expectations!

This was something he had never expected before.

Not only Liu Bowen, but Liu Lian was also surprised.

At first, he also thought that after he asked his father for permission, he would go with his father to meet His Majesty and express his thoughts on the matter.

His Majesty will most likely agree.

But the result was something I never expected.

"We already have the candidates for the land survey, and the arrangements have been made. We will announce the list to the public in a couple of days."

We are already very satisfied with your thoughtfulness.

We believe that you will be able to get things done over there.

However, we feel there are more important things for you to do.

There are many things to do in my Great Ming Dynasty, and many of them are important.

"It's not just about surveying land; there are other things where you can also use your talents."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Liu Lian and said with a smile.

Liu Lian, who was about to speak and plead with His Majesty to allow him to go, and who had prepared a lot to say, swallowed his words back down.

Let's wait and see what His Majesty will say next.

"You have a great talent for arithmetic. You can continue to study in this area and keep working hard."

Don't waste your talent.

Arithmetic is very useful, and if done well, it can bring great benefits to the entire country.

The task of surveying and measuring land can be delegated to others.

There are many people who can do this.

But math is different; finding a good prospect is not easy.

It is far more difficult than finding someone who can survey the fields.

Given your talent and learning, it would be a great loss to our Great Ming Dynasty to send you to survey the fields.

Placing the right people in the right positions is something I, as the emperor, should do...

"Well... Your Majesty, although I am very interested in arithmetic and have some knowledge of it, I can say that I have some understanding of it."

But... but I feel that learning arithmetic at a higher level doesn't seem to be of much use.

For the Ming Dynasty, the effect was far less than that of a land survey.

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and shook his head: "That's because you don't know enough yet."

We haven't given you any more specific tasks to do yet.

Since that's the case, let's give you a task so you can put what you've learned into practice.

You must not underestimate yourself; arithmetic is extremely important, and we cannot do without it in any aspect of life.

For example, the steam engines that we are having the industrial university build now, and the steam trains that were subsequently produced, all involve arithmetic, various calculations, and obtaining accurate data.

Without it, this cannot be done.

The same applies to artillery.

What proportions of gunpowder are used to determine the power and main effects of each type, and how far can different sized shells be propelled?

The range, impact point, and muzzle height of artillery shells are affected by various factors such as wind direction and geographical conditions.

These are all profound subjects.

Artillery is something that our Great Ming Dynasty must develop well in the future and use more in combat.

Even just calculating where the shells land is a complex subject.

If we can figure out all the intricacies involved, it will have an amazing effect when facing the enemy in the future.

The same cannon, once mastered, can wipe out the enemy with a single shot.

If you don't know how to use it, you can fire seven or eight shots and still not hit a single enemy. It's completely useless.

If used well, it can wipe out the enemy before they even get close; if used poorly, the enemy will be right in front of you before you even get close enough to blow them up.

To achieve perfect accuracy and hit the target precisely, the gunner needs to be skilled in operating the artillery and undergo rigorous training.

However, what is even more important is having someone who is very proficient in arithmetic to calculate all the things in advance.

And then create the corresponding coordinates and positions for description.

Create a corresponding table for the gunners to refer to.

In this way, training gunners and firing cannons in future battles will be much more efficient.

Besides these, the development of better firearms in the future will also rely on advanced knowledge of arithmetic.

Without arithmetic skills, many things can be made through trial and error.
However, firstly, it is slow; secondly, it is inefficient; and thirdly, even if it is figured out, its dissemination and popularization will become a major problem.

There are limitations to relying solely on experience and trial and error.

In the early stages, the simpler and rougher ones could be made by the craftsmen through trial and error, verifying them time and time again.

However, to develop more advanced technologies, these alone are not enough.

Arithmetic and other mathematical skills are necessary to work together to achieve the best results.

Therefore, we plan to have you work in the firearms battalion.

On the one hand, it allows you to further study your arithmetic skills, and on the other hand, it gives you an opportunity to apply what you've learned.

We need to calculate all the necessary aspects, such as artillery range, and create a comprehensive table that includes all relevant data, including more precise and detailed coordinates.

Firearms are the future; real sword and spear battles will become increasingly rare.

When the artillery is further developed, it can fire from dozens of miles away and wipe out the enemy with a single shot.

The artillerymen don't need to see the enemy; they only need to know the enemy's coordinates. Then, based on the pre-prepared coordinates and corresponding firing rules, they can adjust their artillery to kill the enemy without them even seeing them.

To achieve this, one needs a deep understanding of arithmetic.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Liu Lian with a solemn expression and spoke.

At first, when Liu Lian heard Zhu Yuanzhang talk about calculating ballistics and such, he didn't think much of it.

However, as the emperor continued to recount his experience, he became increasingly aware of the extraordinary nature of these cannons.

He became especially excited after hearing His Majesty's words that they could fire cannons from dozens of miles away, where the enemy was not visible.

Such a scene is truly beautiful.

If this is true, and we can reach this point in the future, who in the world can be a match for the Ming Dynasty?
Even those people on the northern grasslands no longer dared to go south to graze their horses, bully the Ming Dynasty, or invade China!
If we could really achieve these things, it would be a great blessing for the Ming Dynasty!
Having experienced the chaos at the end of the Yuan Dynasty and the founding of the Ming Dynasty, the Ming Dynasty at this time generally possessed a strong martial spirit.

This is also true for most intellectuals.

They were far from being as spineless as people in later generations.

There is also a clearer understanding of the role of military strength.

If the Ming Dynasty had not been militarily strong enough, it would have been impossible to defeat the many powerful enemies around it, drive the Yuan Tartars out of the country, and avenge the previous humiliation.

Only by having strong military power can one ensure that they are not bullied by others.

Only with strong military power can the people live in peace and stability. Only then can they live better lives and hold their heads high.

That is why Liu Lian reacted this way and became so agitated after hearing the emperor describe these scenes.

He did it!
"Your Majesty, I am willing to serve in the firearms battalion and do my best."

Liu Lian readily agreed, promising never to mention the land survey in Jiangxi again.

If things are really as His Majesty says, then it is indeed most suitable for him to work in the firearms battalion.

It can also play a greater role.

He wanted to see a day when, as His Majesty had said, the Ming Dynasty's firearms could eliminate the enemy from dozens of miles away, in places where the enemy couldn't see them.

Such matters can be understood simply by listening to His Majesty speak; indeed, many things are extremely difficult to calculate and require a great deal of arithmetic knowledge.

It is difficult for ordinary people to calculate.

Even for him, this was a huge challenge.

Calculating the area of ​​farmland is much simpler.

If you only need to master some formulas and methods, and have a certain amount of calculation ability, then it is easy to do.

Therefore, it would be more suitable for him to work in the firearms battalion.

"Once you get to the firearms battalion, do your job well and strive to make our Ming Dynasty's firearms develop better and faster."

With you there, I believe that with your cooperation with Tao Chengdao, our Ming Dynasty's firearms will be transformed significantly.

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled.

In his later years, he witnessed far too many firearms, not to mention manned spaceflight, ballistic missiles that could fly thousands of kilometers, and extremely powerful nuclear weapons...

If we could just get those firearms from World War I, we would be invincible against the Ming Dynasty.

These are all things he desperately wants to see.

There is so much to explore in the area of ​​machinery and firearms.

Developing science and technology, especially firearms, is of paramount importance.

This must be taken seriously.

Upon seeing his own son, he finally relented on this matter and stopped mentioning the land survey in Jiangxi.

Liu Bowen breathed a sigh of relief and was extremely grateful for being promoted.

Your Majesty is intentionally protecting your son. Compared to sending him to Jiangxi to survey the land, this assignment given to your son is more suitable for him.

On the one hand, it allows Lian'er to apply what she has learned, and on the other hand, it allows her to conduct research in the firearms battalion without so many ups and downs or fierce struggles.

It is even less likely to endanger their lives.

"I thank your majesty for your grace."

Liu Bowen bowed deeply to Zhu Yuanzhang, filled with gratitude.

If a superior were to appoint him as a general and send him to Jiangxi to survey the land, he would go.

He would risk his life for it, but he was somewhat reluctant to let his son go.

I suppose... these are some of the thoughts that most parents have.

……

Liu Bowen and Liu Lian brought their sons into the palace and met the emperor.
"That bastard Liu Bowen can't stand being left out either!"
It's time to be determined to go against the truth!

Upon receiving news that Liu Bowen had brought Liu Lian to the palace to meet Zhu Yuanzhang, Hu Weiyong couldn't help but shout and curse, extremely angry.

Without even thinking twice, he knew that Liu Bowen taking his son to see Zhu Yuanzhang was definitely not up to anything good.

They were definitely there to conduct a land survey in Jiangxi.

What I want to do is very simple: to fight against myself.

I knew Liu Bowen wouldn't be able to resist, and now it seems that's exactly what happened!

Although the emperor had summoned other people before, none of them were as good as Liu Bowen.

The task of surveying and registering land in Jiangxi will most likely fall to Liu Bowen.

Since that scoundrel Liu Bowen is so eager to die, then I might as well grant him his wish in the future!
If he wants to dig his roots somewhere in Jiangxi, then he might as well die in Jiangxi!
Don't even think about coming back!
Hu Weiyong was seething inside...

……

"Wu Yin was sent to Jiangxi to be in charge of land surveying and to oversee Jiangxi affairs?"

Two days later, upon receiving this news, Hu Weiyong was somewhat taken aback.

Surprisingly, it wasn't Liu Bowen, but Wu Yin, a bald monk, who was chosen as a general?
Sure enough, those who had been monks before were fond of bald monks.

They're always thinking of appointing bald monks!

However, this is for the best!
He preferred to send Wu Yin to Jiangxi instead of Liu Bowen to survey the land.

Wu Yin is still easier to deal with.

He wasn't afraid of Liu Bowen, so he was even less afraid of Wu Yin, this bald monk who hadn't done much official work before, going to Jiangxi to do things!

Moreover, judging from Zhu Yuanzhang's decision to make this appointment, it's likely that he was more interested in the Longhu Mountain area.

It's good that they're heading towards Longhu Mountain; it won't affect their interests too much.

Perhaps he can continue to hide in Jiangxi.

Compared to Longhu Mountain, a behemoth with vast farmlands.

Although he had some influence in Jiangxi, including his family and considerable land holdings, he still maintained a presence there.

However, he focused more of his efforts on the military garrisons, Poyang Lake, waterways, and the provincial administration offices.

The land survey in Jiangxi did have some impact on him, but not a huge one...

……

Things are about to change in Jiangxi!
After Wu Yin led his men away from the capital towards Jiangxi, Zhu Yuanzhang muttered to himself.

In the past, he would turn a blind eye to Hu Weiyong's troubles in Jiangxi.

That's because there were too many things to do in the past.

There was no time to worry about Jiangxi.

Moreover, it is also necessary to utilize Hu Weiyong's influence in Jiangxi to temporarily communicate with Jiangxi and other places.

Resources such as grain were consolidated and brought to the capital.

Now that many things no longer need to be done, he can naturally start working on this...

……

"Senior brother, senior brother! Have you heard? The imperial court is about to send people to our area to survey the fields!"

"That dog emperor is up to no good!"

In Jiangxi, at a Taoist temple, a younger Taoist priest looked at an older Taoist priest and spoke.

The voice was urgent.

"Don't panic, don't panic, it's not a big deal."

The emperor's land survey only targets wealthy and powerful families; he will absolutely not touch us!

(End of this chapter)