Shen Yi has never seen this thing before, no matter which world he is in, but it does not prevent him from recognizing this thing.
Because it looks easy to recognize.
A gun barrel, with a match rope hung at the back. Lighting the match rope can fire the projectiles inside the barrel.
To be honest, it's not any better than the guns from the Huai'an Ordnance and Weapons Battalion.
After all, fire guns basically work on a similar principle.
Shen Yi took the matchlock gun and looked at it. He tapped the barrel with his hand and confirmed that the barrel was made of metal. He then looked at the barrel carefully and finally confirmed that there were seams.
This made him breathe a sigh of relief.
If the West already had seamless steel pipes in this era, it would be a bit scary.
Moreover, this matchlock gun has no rifling.
After Master Shen looked at it, he put it aside and said with a smile, "Did you just send it back to Jiankang?"
"yes."
Xu Fu lowered his head and said: "The new thing is different from the fire guns we have here. I thought the Marquis would like it, so I asked them to send it to Jiankang."
Xu Fu has not gone to sea for some time.
However, the large and medium-sized commercial banks under his command have not stopped going to sea, and more than one fleet is overseas. Basically, a fleet will come back in two or three months, bringing back some novel things, and there are one or two that Shen Yi needs. people.
At this time, that continent was not doing well. Even if China had two points, in the eyes of these Europeans, it was still a place full of gold, so they were very keen to come to this place. Some of the scholars Shen Yi needed had been invited by Xu Fu Quite a few came.
Mr. Shen sat down on the chair, lowered his head to drink tea, and said with a smile: "Why did you change your name?"
Xu Fu lowered his head and said: "In a blink of an eye, I have known the Marquis for more than ten years, and now it is inappropriate to call me Young Master."
Mr. Shen smiled hoarsely and didn't say much. Instead, he looked at the matchlock gun and said, "This thing is not much different from the firearm camp's gun. If it is currently used on the battlefield..."
He shook his head slightly: "It's not of much use."
"but…"
Shen Yi thought for a while and said: "There are also some things that can be learned. If the fleet can get a few Western craftsmen who specialize in gun making and send them to the Huai'an arms camp and let them develop a new kind of musket, then it will be possible Might be useful on the battlefield."
Xu Fu nodded and said, "I have written down what the Marquis said. When the fleet goes to sea again, let them look for some people like this."
Shen Yi pointed to the chair and motioned for Xu Fu to sit down and talk. After Xu Fu sat down, he said: "Your Majesty has agreed that the income from Liulichang in the past two or three years can be used for the Northern Expedition. In the past two years, you Thank you for your hard work, run north more often, there are probably many places that need your help."
Xu Fu nodded quickly: "Don't worry, Lord Marquis. After you go north, I will follow you northward and help Lord Marquis organize supplies."
Shen Yi said with a smile: "You have also done a lot of things for the court in these years. If you want to serve in the court, I will find you an official position."
"In this way, you and my little sister's children will also have a decent background in the future."
Xu Fu thought about it seriously, then shook his head slightly: "We just follow the Marquis and do something, official positions and so on..."
He shook his head and said: "I'm afraid I can't do it..."
Having said this, he hesitated for a moment and said: "Master Hou, there is something I want to ask you..."
Mr. Shen was a little surprised and asked, "It's rare that you have something to ask me to do. Just tell me."
Xu Fu was silent for a while, then stood up and said: "Master Marquis, with your majesty's tacit approval, Eunuch Gao and I had some fate. In recent years, most people who know me in Jiankang City think that I am Eunuch Gao.
nephew."
"According to the instructions of the Marquis, I do treat Eunuch Gao like an uncle. I will give you something during every year and festival. Eunuch Gao has always taken good care of our couple in secret. When my little sister gave birth to a child, he even came out of the palace to see me.
One glance.”
Having said this, Xu Fu was silent for a while and then said: "In the future..."
"One day in the future, if Eunuch Gao loses power in the palace, please ask Lord Marquis to help him, at least to save his life. Then my little sister and I will take him out of the palace, treat him as a biological uncle, and provide him with care until the end of his life.
."
Hearing Xu Fu's words, Shen Yi's brows twitched and he was a little surprised: "Eunuch Gao is still the manager of the inner court and speaks out among the people in the inner court. How could you say such a thing?"
He looked at Xu Fu intently and asked, "Do you know something?"
Xu Fu raised his head and looked outside the door, stood up and closed the door, then sat next to Shen Yi and sighed softly: "On the second day of the Lunar New Year, I took my little sister to pay New Year's greetings to Eunuch Gao."
"He said…"
Xu Fu whispered: "He said that the current internal guards are no longer in his control."
Having said this, Xu Fu stopped talking.
But enough said.
This sentence alone shows that the power of the inner court in the palace is being transferred.
This is nothing unusual.
The position of the eunuch of the inner court has a career lifespan. It is impossible for one person to dominate forever. Firstly, there are too many people below to watch. Secondly, as time goes by, it is easy to get bigger and bigger. In the end, the inner court may not be able to rule.
My surname is Li.
Therefore, eunuchs in this position do not last long, and are generally similar to the career life of a prime minister.
And how long has Gao Ming been in this position?
Sixteen years and more!
Because when Emperor Hongde came to the throne, the Yuan Dynasty had not yet been changed, and it was not until the second year that the Yuan Dynasty was changed to Hongde.
The lifespan of this profession is already ridiculously long among the ranks of great eunuchs.
How many years has Feng Baocai been working? Only ten years.
Thinking of this, Shen Yi rubbed his temples and thought of the chubby eunuch Sun Jin.
If nothing else, after Gao Ming, Sun Jin should be the one in the palace.
Mr. Shen lowered his head and took a sip of tea and said quietly: "Don't worry, your majesty is a man who cherishes old friendships. Eunuch Gao accompanied you when he was in the East Palace. Even if he is no longer in charge, your majesty will not embarrass him."
"Master Hou."
Xu Fu whispered: "I'm not afraid that Your Majesty will embarrass Eunuch Gao, but..."
It's because I'm afraid of those who come after me.
Shen Yi looked calm and said: "An Xin, if the opportunity is right, I will tell you this matter in front of His Majesty."
Xu Fu stood up, knelt in front of Shen Yi, lowered his head and said, "Thank you, Lord Marquis."
Shen Yi stretched out his hand to help him up, and said with a smile: "It's better for you, the official, to be kind and righteous."
Xu Fu was a little embarrassed, lowered his head and said: "Master Hou, it's been ten years."
"For the past ten years, Eunuch Gao has treated me like a nephew."
Hearing his words, Shen Yi was startled, and then he figured out something.
Perhaps ten years ago, Eunuch Gao, who recognized Xu Fu as his nephew, was already planning for his retirement!
If you think more deeply...
At that time, the emperor was still very young, and even some young emperors, when they asked Gao Ming to recognize the family, they may not have the idea of leaving a way out for Eunuch Gao.
After all, master and servant for many years...
Thinking of this, Mr. Shen was slightly in a trance.
In Jiankang City, there are so many twists and turns that it is really difficult to see through them all.
However, if his guess is true, today's Emperor Hongde...
There is indeed the appearance of a human being.
…………
The eleventh day of the first lunar month.
That morning, Shen Yi bid farewell to Su Ding and Ling Su outside the city gate.
They are going back to Shandong to arrange the battle situation.
At the east city gate, the two of them clasped their fists and saluted Shen Yi.
Mr. Shen returned the gift with his hand and said with a smile: "You two go slowly along the way. Don't be in a hurry."
Su Ding responded first, then looked at Xue Wei behind Shen Yi, and said with a smile: "I have to be anxious. I have to arrange a new house for General Xue when I return to Jinan Mansion."
Ling Su also smiled and said, "Not bad, not bad. I want to decorate a beautiful house for General Xue."
Shen Yi smiled dumbly, turned to look at the embarrassed Xue Wei behind him, and said: "To marry a princess, you really need to look pretty. Please take the trouble. I will go back to Jinan in a few days."
Xue Wei's face turned red.
"You guys are always talking nonsense. I will only stay in Jiankang for a few more days. After the Lantern Festival, I will go back!"
When Ling Su and Su Ding heard this, they all laughed and got on their horses.
"There's no rush, no rush, General Xue, stay a little longer."
The two of them hugged each other on horseback.
"For errands in the north, it's good to have us!"
After that, the two men turned their horses and drove away.