Ming Dynasty 1627

Chapter 165 Sun Chengzong doesn't seem to be doing so well.
The autumn wind was bleak, stirring up dust and sand, which fluttered the hem of Zhu Youjian's dragon robe.

He stood with his hands behind his back, expressionless, his calm gaze sweeping over the high platform and landing on the rows of soldiers below who were being called out of formation and sent back to their camps.

The drumbeats were muffled, and the officers' calls to duty rose and fell in waves. The whole process was orderly, yet it was filled with a sense of oppression.

However, upon closer inspection, one will find...

Zhu Youjian was lost in thought again.

His thoughts drifted along the Little Ice Age all the way to the tech tree.

In short, the Ming Dynasty's technology must develop on two fronts.

One is the pragmatist.

This approach is simple and crude, disregarding the principles of investigation and knowledge acquisition, and only seeking immediate results.

Although he was a liberal arts student and not good at science, he remembered from his history textbook that the first industrial revolution in Europe did not actually involve much scientific content.

What are the technological features of the Jenny spinning machine?
What kind of technology did the Newcomen steam engine, which was built by blacksmiths in its early days, possess?
Moreover, some vague concepts and fragmented nouns still remained in his mind.

Boiling water produces steam, which pushes the piston, driving the connecting rod...

Although... he had no idea what the pistons, cylinders, crankshafts, connecting rods, and other components actually looked like.

But it doesn't matter, let's give it a try. In terms of scientific theory, how could he be inferior to a British craftsman?

And how could the craftsmanship of the Ming Dynasty blacksmiths be inferior to that of their European counterparts?

Thinking too much is useless; let's just start doing it.

Besides the steam engine, there was also the spring-loaded firing mechanism of the flintlock musket, the casting process and caliber ratio of the new artillery...

He wanted to work on anything that he had some recollection of, that didn't require too much theoretical support, and that the most skilled craftsmen of the era could figure out through trial and error.

Even the knowledge he only vaguely remembers—that magnets and coils can generate electricity, the left-hand law, the right-hand law—is not entirely beyond his ability to try.

He couldn't worry about how to store or use the generated electricity for the time being.

Getting it done first is victory!
Let this Ming Dynasty experience the shock of being electrocuted!
The Tianqi Emperor enjoyed carpentry, and his Yongchang Emperor, as the "Chief Engineer," also enjoyed ingenious and unusual skills—this was a natural progression and quite reasonable.

He firmly believed that as long as enough resources and time were given, and failures were allowed, with the wisdom of countless skilled craftsmen in the Ming Dynasty, they would eventually be able to create some unexpected sparks on this path.

Nine years of compulsory education and more than a decade of online writing have filled his mind with all sorts of things, and some of them are bound to blossom and bear fruit in this era.

The other path is the theoretical one.

This is a fundamental plan for the long-term stability and security of Chinese civilization.

Starting from the most basic mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology, we build a complete scientific system from the bottom up.

This path cannot be completed by one person alone; ultimately, it depends on the wisdom of the Ming people themselves.

All he had to do was set the tone and create an atmosphere of seeking truth and being pragmatic. The rest was up to the brightest minds of this era to deduce and explore on their own.

Compared to the difficulty of building a theoretical system from scratch, the greater challenge lies in how to subtly and imperceptibly sow the seeds of science in this land where Confucianism is deeply rooted.

If one is not careful, he will be attacked by the entire Confucian world.

Using the shell of the French Communist Party and pursuing a pragmatic approach might be a good choice.

In this era, a group of scholar-officials, led by Xu Guangqi, began to open their eyes to the world.

only……

The thought of this group of people made Zhu Youjian feel a lump in his throat.

These well-read scholars actually believed in a foreign god from thousands of miles away?

Even in later times, when national self-confidence was at its lowest point, the spread of Christianity was still fraught with difficulty.

In an era where rulers and subjects, fathers and sons, and ancestral bloodlines were of paramount importance, how did they abandon their ancestors and worship a God who was completely unrelated to them?

"It benefits the king's rule, supports Confucianism, corrects Buddhism, and is of great benefit to the current dynasty."

Zhu Youjian silently recited this sentence from Xu Guangqi's memorial eleven years ago, his brows furrowing slightly.

Old Xu, are you serious? You haven't been brainwashed by a pyramid scheme, have you...?

If you can't figure it out, then let's meet and talk about it.

Gao Shiming had already received his instructions and compiled a list of members of the Western France Party.

Judging by the timeline, Xu Guangqi, Han Lin, and Sun Yuanhua from Southern Zhili, Wang Zheng from Shaanxi, and Li Zhizao from Zhejiang should all arrive in Beijing within this month.

Those who traveled to Beijing with them included Qian Qianyi, Wen Tiren, Zhou Yanru, Hong Chengchou, and others.

This October, the stage in Beijing is destined to be very interesting.

……

Zhu Youjian was still lost in thought, his mind even drifting to the sensation that the experiment in the Imperial Capital hemisphere would cause.

Although he hadn't even figured out exactly how to vacuum, he figured he might as well give it a try; maybe it would work.

"Your Majesty." A steady voice suddenly pulled Zhu Youjian's thoughts back from thousands of miles away.

He turned around and saw that Xu Yingyuan, the chief eunuch of the Imperial Horse Administration, had already ascended the high platform and was bowing respectfully with his hands clasped in front of him.

"Your Majesty, more than two thousand soldiers have been eliminated this time, totaling four hundred and ten squads. All have been rewarded and distributed, and have received their orders and been assigned to various units of the Beijing Garrison."

Zhu Youjian snapped out of his daze, nodded slightly, and his gaze instantly sharpened, switching from a daydreaming time traveler back to the decisive and ruthless emperor.

He has come here today not merely to distribute gifts and rewards.

The other thing is of utmost importance.

"You and Huo Weihua should work together to distribute these people evenly among the various units of the Beijing Garrison, and prevent them from sticking together."

"In addition, the selection of new warriors should be prepared in advance, so that when the generals from all sides enter the capital, their elite troops can be replenished immediately."

"As Your Majesty commands," Xu Yingyuan replied respectfully, then added, "As Your Majesty instructed, the eunuchs who were distributing the wine kept records. Today... more than thirty-five people broke their bowls."

Less than 10%? That's not bad.

If more than two thousand people were eliminated in such a drastic way, with everyone silently accepting their rewards and leaving, then this army would truly be without hope.

Having resentment and unwillingness to accept things is a good thing.

We should hold onto this anger for now, and keep it bottled up for two months before the reorganization of the Beijing garrison can proceed with unstoppable momentum.

Zhu Youjian was satisfied, but his face remained calm and expressionless; he simply nodded.

He slowly turned around, his gaze sharp as he swept over the six officers standing solemnly: Cao Bianjiao, Zhou Yuji, Sun Yingyuan, Huang Degong, Wu Fangrui, and Wu Jisi.

After a moment's hesitation, he asked:
"Of the six of you, which one has read Qi Shaobao's 'True Records of Military Training'?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Cao Bianjiao, Zhou Yuji, Wu Fangrui, and Wu Jisi all raised their hands.

Sun Yingyuan and Huang Degong exchanged a glance, their faces showing some embarrassment, and silently lowered their heads.

Zhu Youjian's gaze did not linger on them for long, and he continued to ask, "What about Governor Sun's 'Combined Compilation of Questions and Answers from the Chariot Camp'?"

This time, in addition to Cao Bianjiao and Zhou Yuji, Huang Degong also raised his hand.

Zhu Youjian frowned slightly, and looking at the officers in front of him, he asked, "What kind of drill manuals do you use to train your soldiers on a daily basis?"

"drill book?"

The six people exchanged glances, clearly unfamiliar with the term, but quickly grasped its meaning.

The training manual is quite intuitive and easy to understand.

Sun Yingyuan was the first to react, bowing and replying, "Your Majesty, this humble general... this humble general followed the common training methods in the garrison, and after entering the camp, he also referred to some of the old systems of the Tengxiang Four Guards."

Wu Fangrui and Wu Jisi echoed this, saying it was based on the old system of the Tengxiang Four Guards.

But when asked when this old system originated and how it differed from the military training, they stammered and couldn't give a clear answer.

Huang Degong, Zhou Yuji, and Cao Bianjiao replied that they had referred to the Liaodong military law, as well as some content from "Records of Military Training" and "Combined Compilation of Questions and Answers from the Chariot Battalion." However, fundamentally, they were still fighting independently and had not formed a unified system.

Zhu Youjian sighed softly to himself.

Since his transmigration, he has always believed in "professionals doing professional things," so he has not interfered much in military training.

He simply used some management knowledge from later generations to introduce competition, stimulate vitality, and get them moving and practicing, thereby selecting the best through the training.

After practicing for a month, he finally realized something was wrong.

The army at the end of the Ming Dynasty didn't seem to be as professional as he thought.

The soldiers from Datong carried forty light arrows in their quivers.

The soldiers from Liaodong carried thirty heavy arrows, and some officers even carried their own three-barreled muskets. However, the specific rations of gunpowder and ammunition varied from one to another.

The entire Yongwei Battalion appeared to be unified under one banner and with clear military orders, but in reality, it was a cobbled-together "Eight-Nation Alliance".

What kind of nonsense is this!
But actually, it's partly his fault...

On the third day after ascending the throne, he had Gao Shiming bring him Qi Jiguang's "Records of Military Training" and "New Book of Military Efficiency".

After meeting Sun Chengzong, I took out his book, "A Compilation of Questions from Cheying".

Unfortunately, I was busy with personnel adjustments, screening of official documents in the capital, implementation of new policies, and the Mongol war, so I really didn't have time to read it carefully.

It wasn't until after the third daily lecture that he finally found the time to carefully read through these military books.

After reading it, he finally understood what was wrong with this brave guard battalion.

Qi Jiguang's "True Records of Military Training" is practically a military encyclopedia.

From soldier selection and daily training to weapon allocation, formation drills, military law and discipline, and setting up camp, everything is covered in an appallingly detailed manner.

It even included details about how several people shared a toilet when camping.

“Each cavalry unit has one flag, and each chariot soldier has two chariots. Each unit should dig a latrine pit in its local area.”

"At night, they shall relieve themselves in the latrine. At dawn, when the music is played, if they are about to leave, they shall be buried. If they are staying for a long time, they shall be cleaned and, when the gate is opened, sent out of the camp and abandoned far away. No one is allowed to leave the camp to relieve themselves at night."

This military treatise was even divided into multiple volumes, with each rank—General, Assistant General, Battalion Commander, Captain, Squad Leader, and Sergeant—having different content to study and memorize.

This is already a truly standardized operating manual.

Of course, it also contains some dross, such as "people nowadays only seek auspicious days, but do not know the harm caused by the clash with one's own destiny" and "the fourth day of the first month is not auspicious for officials," but these flaws do not detract from its overall merit.

However, Zhu Youjian followed the training for a month but never saw anyone train troops in this way.

Each person fought bravely in their own formation and shooting practice, and they were able to work together as if following the old system of the Ming Dynasty, but there were many problems in the details.

Sun Chengzong's "Cheying Kouda Hebian" further broadened Zhu Youjian's horizons.

This book, in a question-and-answer format, provides practical examples of how cart camps, cavalry camps, and naval camps can be used in combination under the geographical conditions of Liaodong.

but……

The entire text is written in classical Chinese, so it is clear that this is a military treatise written for the "scholar-officials" rather than the "common people".

That’s all.

Some of the content made him feel like he needed to stretch his legs a little.

For example, one of the questions is: What should be done if a convoy gets stuck in the mud and is attacked by the enemy?
The book's answer is: Immediately hold your ground, then send a surprise attack on the enemy's flank, or cleverly ambush them from behind. The enemy will surely retreat, and when our army launches a counterattack, the enemy will panic and flee. Sending scouts to investigate their route and then blocking their advance is even more ingenious.

After Zhu Youjian finished reading, he almost threw the book in his hand away.

What does it mean to cleverly ambush the enemy from behind their lines? When things are at their most critical, where do you find a surprise force to ambush them?

What does it mean that the enemy will definitely retreat?
What if he doesn't back down? What if he charges in and attacks head-on?
Furthermore, isn't scouting and reconnaissance a routine operation? When did it become a "clever" tactic?
After reading the book, Zhu Youjian began to doubt his decision to send Sun Chengzong to oversee the troops in Ji and Liao.

Old Sun seems to be really bad at military strategy.

The content of this book... is absolutely ridiculous.

Forget it... I never expected the Jiliao Governor to be a Chang Yuchun.

All I need to do is be like Li Shanchang and manage the grain, personnel, and corruption properly.

As for the real methods of training troops, it seems that only Zhu Youjian himself can do it.

Zhu Youjian took a deep breath, his voice turning cold.

"I have summoned you here today for three matters, which are interconnected and linked together. You must listen carefully."

The six men perked up and bowed in unison, saying, "Your subjects obey the decree!"

"Firstly, there is the enemy situation!"

Zhu Youjian's voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable authority.

"Among the reports and memorials submitted to the emperor, there were always many different opinions on the Jianzhou Jurchen's tactics, and no consensus could be reached."

"It is said that the Mongols are good at archery, and are better than the Jurchens; it is also said that the Jurchens are skilled in archery on horseback, and within five steps, anyone who sees them will be defeated."

"Some say the Jurchen armor is excellent, while others say our Ming armor is as thin as paper."

"Some say he died wearing double armor, while others say it was just a difference between cotton armor and iron armor."

"Such things are hard to distinguish between true and false. It's fine for those of you who have personally experienced the battle, but what about those officers and soldiers who have never seen the Jurchens? What should they rely on?"

"I order you all to search your ranks and find all those who have personally fought against the Jurchens and Tartars, regardless of their rank, and compile all their knowledge and observations into a book! Record everything about the enemy's tactics, formations, weaponry, and habits, down to the smallest detail!"

Zhu Youjian's gaze swept over the crowd, and he emphasized his tone:
"Do not engage in empty talk like scholars. Every word must be sharp and incisive, so that every word can save lives on the battlefield! Understand?!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" the six replied in unison.

Zhu Youjian nodded and said nothing more.

If it's not well written, just send it back for rewriting.

He believed that nothing would teach these warriors to speak like human beings better than having them revise their documents repeatedly.

Moreover, having faced life and death head-on, they probably wouldn't have written something like "red-coated cannons, causing devastation for dozens of miles."

Anyone who dares to write this will be taught by Zhu Youjian what it means to be beaten with military rods and nothing will remain uncorrupted!

"Secondly, there is the code of conduct."

"Qi Shaobao's 'True Records of Military Training' can be considered the most essential military treatise in history. However..."

Zhu Youjian paused, looking at everyone.

"This is, after all, a military treatise from the Wanli era. Qi Shaobao was facing the Mongols back then, not the Jurchens. Firearms and tactics are different now."

"His work on 'The New Book of Performance' in the South and 'The Practical Record of Military Training' in the North shows that there is no universally applicable principle in military strategy."

"Therefore, this manual also needs to be revised to keep pace with the times."

"You six, read through 'The True Record of Military Training' carefully, and then each of you write a policy essay, pointing out what is wrong with the book, what should be changed, what should be added, and what should be deleted. I want to see it in ten days."

A light instantly ignited in their eyes. This was the emperor testing them, and giving them a chance to stand out!
"Thirdly, there's the field training!"

"Once the enemy situation is compiled into a book and the new drill manual is in progress, starting in November, each battalion of the Brave Guard Battalion will be required to conduct two field training exercises per month."

"One forced march and one regular march. Xu Yingyuan will send you the specific routes, tasks, and requirements at that time."

"I want to see with my own eyes whether the soldiers you've trained are truly capable of fighting, or merely empty shells that go through the motions on the training ground!"

He glanced at the six people and slowly threw out his last chip.

"The top performer in each of the above three matters will receive an additional ten points when selecting the commanders in December."

"Gentlemen, strive on! I await the day when another Qi Shaobao will emerge from among you!"

"While I failed to be granted the title of Marquis back then, I have treated you as a Duke here!"

This time, all six of them started breathing heavily.

Their voices, hoarse yet resolute, filled with an unprecedented longing, merging into a soaring wave of sound.

"We, your subjects, would gladly die a thousand deaths!"

Zhu Youjian nodded in satisfaction, glanced at the sky, and turned to Xu Yingyuan, saying, "Order the meal to be served. I'll return to the palace first."

Having said that, he waved his dragon sleeve and turned to walk down from the high platform.

Behind him, six officers knelt down in unison.

Immediately afterwards, on the training ground, the armor plates of three thousand soldiers clashed, and they knelt down like a tidal wave.

"Respectfully bidding farewell to Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

The roar of mountains and the roar of the sea echoed through the sky.

Cao Bianjiao slowly stood up. He glanced at the other five people beside him, who were also filled with excitement, and his eyes blazed with fighting spirit.

Qi Shaobao...

Ah.

I, Cao Bianjiao, am nothing more than the three characters Cao Bianjiao!

(End of this chapter)