"Your Majesty, I think that the North American natives should be similar to some of the backward tribes among the chieftains in the southwest of the Ming Dynasty. Therefore, I suggest that I send an imperial edict to Zhu Xieyuan, the Minister of the Ministry of War, the Governor of Yun, Gui, Sichuan, and Hu, and the Military Affairs of Guangxi and the Governor of Guizhou, and let him transfer them
Officials familiar with chieftain affairs came to Beijing to discuss the matter."
Wen Tiren did not just tell Zhong Jinwei about arranging people casually, but because he had already made plans in his mind. Therefore, he could answer Emperor Chongzhen's question immediately.
"This strategy is very good." Emperor Chongzhen agreed when he heard that this method was good.
Zhong Jinwei also nodded while listening, but he still added: "Your Majesty, there must be some tribes that are unwilling to be assimilated. What measures should be taken to deal with these tribes, which can not only reduce the difficulty for the vassal king to conquer them, but also try to
Preserving the population of these tribes for the use of the vassal state also requires careful study."
Emperor Chongzhen was very satisfied with what he heard and said to Zhong Jinwei: "Master Zhong has thought very carefully, but what should we do about this matter?"
It cannot be said that just by using your brain in the Ming Dynasty government office, you can come up with a good strategy. Therefore, Emperor Chongzhen asked this question.
Zhong Jinwei pondered for a while, not very sure, so he reported to Emperor Chongzhen: "I will check with Li Wei about this matter. In addition, it is best to find other Ming people who have been to North America to collect more information.
Only the countermeasures derived from this will be targeted.”
Emperor Chongzhen laughed silently after hearing this, and then said to Zhong Jinwei: "I have asked Dongchang to check out the people who have been to North America. I believe there will be news soon."
"Your Majesty is wise." When Zhong Jinwei heard this, he immediately flattered him. Anyway, if you pay attention to it, you don't have to spend money, and the cost is very low.
Wen Tiren smiled on the side and did not follow up. After waiting for a while, he said to Zhong Jinwei: "Marquis Zhongxing, when do you plan to let the vassal clan send people to the New Army for further training?"
When Emperor Chongzhen heard this, he was also very concerned about this matter and looked at Zhong Jinwei.
"The initial idea is to wait until the new army is trained and have actual combat experience, and then make a summary and train the next batch of new armies, and then let people from the feudal princes and clans come over for further training." Zhong Jinwei thought for a moment and answered him.
road.
After hearing this, Emperor Chongzhen looked at Zhong Jinwei and said sincerely: "Master Zhong, your new army has a great relationship with the vassal feudal overseas affairs. You must not let me down!"
Zhong Jinwei smiled slightly and replied: "Your Majesty, don't worry, everything in the new army is going according to plan. The flintlock rifle has also been developed. In addition, I asked the Military War Bureau to provide paper bullets, which greatly improved the loading speed.
When this firearm is officially equipped, it will definitely show its great power."
Emperor Chongzhen raised his brows and asked with a bit of joy: "Master Zhong, is this really so? What are those paper bullets?"
Wen Tiren also smiled and looked at Zhong Jinwei. This man from later generations was constantly bringing surprises to them.
Zhong Jinwei introduced the paper bullet to Emperor Chongzhen and Wen Tiren. This thing had no technical content, and they all understood it as soon as he explained it.
Emperor Chongzhen said with great interest: "Master Zhong, please arrange for me to see a comparison exercise between this new firearm and the old blunderbuss."
Zhong Jinwei didn't hesitate at all and immediately agreed. Yesterday, there happened to be a live ammunition shooting comparison, and the effect was very good.
Wen Tiren looked at the happy expressions of the monarch and his ministers on the side. He recalled what Zhong Jinwei said that morning and couldn't help but remind him: "Marquis Zhongxing, don't forget that weapons are not the key factor in determining the outcome of a war."
Upon hearing this, Zhong Jinwei looked at Wen Tiren dumbly. Seeing that he looked a little worried, he immediately stopped smiling and replied solemnly: "Don't worry, Mr. Wen. Although I am young, I am not a complacent person. I will definitely pay attention to it."
"
Seeing this, Wen Tiren nodded with satisfaction. He could indeed trust him on this point, because although he was a marquis, he had never forgotten anything.
Zhong Jinwei turned to Emperor Chongzhen and said with a slightly worried expression: "Your Majesty, the only thing I worry about about the Westerners is the issue of ocean warfare."
"Oh, why did Master Zhong say such a thing?" Emperor Chongzhen asked quickly after hearing this.
"Your Majesty, a naval battle is different from a land battle. On the sea, there is a vast expanse as far as the eye can see. When you discovered me, I also discovered you. There are not many factors in a land battle."
Emperor Chongzhen and Wen Tiren both knew what Zhong Jinwei was referring to, because Zhong Jinwei had already introduced it in the morning.
Neither of them spoke, and listened to Zhong Jinwei continue to explain: "Moreover, today is different from the past. In the past, the outcome of naval battles would ultimately be determined through a ship-jumping battle, but it is different now."
Emperor Chongzhen and Wen Tiren were not clear about this content, so they listened even more carefully.
"Nowadays, when the enemy and we meet on the ocean, we compete to see whose cannon is more accurate and whose cannon has a longer range. Whoever has the advantage will be able to sink the other party's ship first."
Zhong Jinwei's words were easy to understand, so the two listeners remained silent and continued to listen attentively.
"Secondly, it is also very important to compare whose boat is faster. If the boat is faster, I can still run away if I can't beat you. If I can beat you, I can catch up with you."
After Zhong Jinwei said this, he took a breath, looked at Wen Tiren, and then turned to Emperor Chongzhen and said: "Your Majesty, compared with the Westerners, our ships and cannons of the Ming Dynasty, at least for now, have no advantage, and are even at a disadvantage."
When Emperor Chongzhen heard this, his heart was lifted. He frowned, opened his nose slightly, and asked Zhong Jinwei: "What should we do?"
Zhong Jinwei looked at Emperor Chongzhen's expression and knew that he was worried, so he smiled, and then comforted him and said: "Your Majesty, there is no need to worry. If you only fight in the offshore waters of the Ming Dynasty, this advantage will not be obvious. But in the long term,
We still have to be better than the Westerners in these two aspects, or at least have the same level."
Wen Tiren was not satisfied with Zhong Jinwei's answer. He asked: "Marquis Zhongxing, your Majesty, is there any way to solve this problem?"
When Zhong Jinwei heard Wen Tiren's question, he turned to him and said: "Mr. Wen, the solution is very simple, which is to establish a shipbuilding research institute and an artillery research institute, and gather the elites of the Ming Dynasty to develop better ships and guns than the Westerners.
.”
There are already other research institutes established there. It doesn't matter if there are more research institutes now. Emperor Chongzhen directly ordered Zhong Jinwei: "Master Zhong will handle the affairs of the research institute."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Zhong Jinwei agreed. Immediately he remembered something and added: "After Xu Xiake goes to Europe, we can also ask him to collect relevant talents and information and make two-hand preparation."
"That's very good, Master Zhong. You are still the most familiar with Western affairs. Regarding the matters related to this mission, you should leave it to Xu Xiake."
After Emperor Chongzhen finished speaking to Zhong Jinwei, he turned to Wen Tiren and said: "Qing Wen, the cabinet has drafted a decree and issued it to the two capitals and thirteen provinces, asking people who are good at shipping and artillery, regardless of officials or civilians, to come to the capital."
Once these things were arranged, the feudal overseas affairs of the vassal clan finally came to an end. Emperor Chongzhen couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. Just as he was about to say a few words of praise for Zhong Jinwei and Wen Tiren, he heard a hurried voice outside the palace: "
Urgent delivery eight hundred miles south of the Yangtze River!"