My Pen Pal Zhu Yuanzhang

Chapter 57 Glasses Incident
When Xu Nian heard that Li Han was going to write a novel, he, as a professional, actually gave his own opinions from the perspective of technological development in the Ming Dynasty.

In his words, with the technology during the Hongwu period, it was almost impossible to build a rifle that was almost the same as that in the mid-19th century.

However, if we lower the requirements and only require rapid shooting, it is not difficult to achieve.

First of all, in terms of materials, after thousands of years of accumulation, China's steelmaking and iron smelting technology is actually far ahead of the world's level at the same time.

If there is steel, it is not difficult to make a gun barrel. Moreover, the forging technology of the Ming Dynasty was first-class, especially the use of molds, which had reached a very high level.

Of course, it is impossible to make seamless steel pipes, but for the Ming Dynasty, if gunpowder was used as propellant, the chamber pressure would not be too high, which could effectively reduce the risk of explosion.

The prerequisite is that the forging process standards must be unified, but with the production level of Ming Dynasty's handicraft workshops, this may be difficult to achieve in a short time.

As for the trigger, bolt-action parts and other miscellaneous parts, as long as there is a mold, it will only take a few minutes to make them.

Moreover, since it is a bolt-action rifle, there is no big problem with the recoil spring. With the technology of the Ming Dynasty, it would probably be a little difficult to produce a qualified recoil spring.

Secondly, since paper-wrapped bullets are used, the production process and steps are greatly simplified. Moreover, if gunpowder is used as the propellant, although its power cannot be compared with nitrocellulose, it is completely sufficient.

After all, the Ming bullets were designed to hit rattan armor and chain mail, not ceramic plates and Kevlar.

This is also the reason why Li Han chose a needle-fire gun instead of the Mauser 98K. Bullets are a big problem.

In Xu Nian's words, the difficulty in making bolt-action rifles in the Ming Dynasty was not the craftsmanship and materials, but the idea of ​​making the gun.

As long as the blueprint is given, it is not difficult to pull the big bolt by hand.

Although this hand-made beggar's version of M1941 is definitely not comparable to the original one.

But once it is really made, it will be far superior to the matchlock and flintlock rifles, and will be able to raise the Ming Dynasty's firearms to the level of the early nineteenth century.

This was a complete dimensionality reduction attack on other armies in the 14th century!

After determining the development ideas for firearms, Li Han urged Xu Nian to come up with the manufacturing process and drawings.

The reason is legitimate. We are going to write a technical novel, so the more detailed the technical aspects are, the better.

Xu Nian had only one question that he didn't understand: why did it have to be printed in traditional Chinese characters?

After everything was done, Li Han also bought the hand-rubbed M1841 and transferred yuan to Xu Nian. He couldn't let his good brother suffer a loss, right?

Maybe I'll have to ask him for help next time.

After returning home, Li Han wrote a reply, prepared everything except potatoes and sweet potatoes, and mailed it to Zhu Yuanzhang.

……

After the morning court session, Li Min came out of the Fengtian Hall and looked at the majestic and solemn Forbidden City, and let out a long sigh.

He keenly felt that the Ming Dynasty was about to undergo an earth-shaking change.

Not only because the Ming Dynasty had already activated the first radio communication line, but also because news from thousands of miles away could be transmitted to Yingtian Prefecture at any time.

Just this morning at the court session, something happened that was enough to shock the government and the public.

His Majesty suddenly announced that the system of enfeoffment of princes would be stopped, and all princes, except those who had already been enfeoffed, would remain in Yingtian Prefecture!
As for those who had already been enfeoffed, their border troop transfer orders were revoked, and the number of royal guards was limited to one hundred.

The power to command the garrisons, border troops, the capital's camps, and even the military camps in various places is held by the Five Military Commission, while the transfer orders and the appointment and dismissal of generals are the responsibility of the Ministry of War, and all transfer orders are concentrated in the hands of Your Majesty.

As soon as this order was issued, it caused an uproar in the court, but everyone's reactions were different.

Among them, the Ministry of Shrines and the Honglu Temple reacted most violently. They stood up one after another and shouted loudly that this move was not in line with ancient system and that placing the prince in the capital would definitely lead to disaster!
The officials of the aristocratic families represented by the Jiangnan faction praised the emperor's move and argued with the Ministry of Shrines and the Honglu Temple. Although Li Min was born into a landlord family, he was not from the aristocratic family. He could guess that the emperor's cessation of enfeoffment meant that there would be fewer vassal kings in the aristocratic territories, and they were naturally happy to see it happen.

However, the reaction of the nobles headed by Xu Da was somewhat intriguing. Normally, they were the ones who quarreled the most, but now, contrary to their usual behavior, they just stood aside and watched the fun.

If something goes wrong, there must be a demon!

Considering that His Majesty has been summoning nobles to meet him recently, Li Min speculated that His Majesty wanted to use the nobles and princes to accomplish something big.

It is very likely related to the gentry!
In addition, an interesting thing happened in the court.

As soon as His Majesty entered the court, he put on the glasses, which aroused the curiosity of the court officials and made them ask questions.

His Majesty was very generous and explained to everyone the benefits of the glasses, which made everyone envious.

There are many old ministers in the court who are in their fifties or even sixties, and almost all of them have the problem of poor eyesight.

Looking at the glasses His Majesty is wearing, I am almost pining for them.

But looking at His Majesty's expression from a distance, he seems a little proud.

When His Majesty introduced the glasses, Xu Da and Li Wenzhong also put them on quietly.

That arrogant look made all the ministers roll their eyes.

Li Min thought that Your Majesty could use the glasses as a reward to your ministers.

As I walked, I recalled what happened in today's morning court, and before I knew it, I arrived at the Meridian Gate.

Just as he was about to leave the palace, a sarcastic voice came from the side.

"Sir Li, what's so great about Xu Da wearing glasses? I think he and Li Wenzhong just want to show off in front of us. It's really disgraceful!"

Li Min turned his head and saw that it was the Minister of Rites Zhao Mao. This man was from a noble family and was old-fashioned and stubborn. Apart from official business, he did not have much interaction with him.

I don't know why he came to talk to me at this time.

Maybe it’s because I’m the easy-to-talk-to type in the court.

Li Min didn't want to pay any more attention to him. Since he had already speculated that His Majesty might take some action against the gentry, he naturally had to keep a distance from the ministers of the gentry faction.

But Zhao Mao didn't intend to let him go just like that.

"Master Li, I'm not saying anything, but those rough guys want to wear glasses to look refined. Why don't they look in the mirror to see if they look good?"

Looking at Zhao Mao's angry expression, Li Min shook his head helplessly.

Zhao Mao, what you meant by this is not that you think Xu Da wearing glasses is disrespectful, but probably because the glasses are not on your nose.

Li Min didn't want to pay any more attention to him, so he said casually, "Master Zhao is right."

Zhao Mao was just thinking about taking over the conversation when he saw a scene that stunned him.

Li Min magically took out a pair of glasses from his sleeve, put them on his nose in front of him, then waved his sleeves and walked away.

Zhao Mao...

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(End of this chapter)