The Ming Dynasty started with caution

Yan Chengjin came to the Meridian Gate in a sedan chair and saw the sedan chairs of Qin Hong, Liu Jian and others, who had already entered the palace.

His Majesty summoned the Ministry of War and the Cabinet, and he must have seen Hainan's urgent report.

Fengtian Hall,

Emperor Hongzhi put down Hainan's urgent report, looked a little indifferent, and said calmly: "The foreigners dared to set their sights on the territory of my Ming Dynasty. Although I am not as good as Emperor Wen in terms of civil and military strategy, I will not allow the foreigners to damage the prestige of the Ming Dynasty."

He looked down on the French.

During the reign of Emperor Wen, all nations came to pay tribute to the Ming Dynasty, and the French country was obviously not as strong as the Ming Dynasty.

In his opinion, the threat was not as great as the Tatars in the north.

Qin Hong said: "I order Xiong Su of Guangdong to lead the navy to meet the enemy and defeat the French within three months."

Liu Jian nodded. No one knew the generals of the Guangdong Navy better than Qin Hong. He had served as the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi for three years.

Emperor Hongzhi said, "Just as you said, go and do it."

At this moment, Xiao Jing pushed the door open and said, "Your Majesty, Yan Chengjin wants to see you."

Outside the palace, Yan Chengjin was calculating frantically in his mind.

Why would the French warships come to Hainan? At this time, they should be in Sindhu.

This year, Da Gama led his fleet to capture Calicut in Sindhu.

Sailing further east, the Strait of Malacca was discovered.

Yan Chengjin speculated that the appearance of new products such as the Song astronomical telescope in Liangxiang intensified overseas trade.

The French frequently traded in Guangdong, and in Guangdong, there were ships that went to Hainan to transport goods, and then discovered the rich island of Hainan.

The little eunuch came out to report, "Master Yan, please go in quickly."

Yan Chengjin strode into the palace and said to Emperor Hongzhi, "I have also received a letter from Xu Jinzhong."

Emperor Hongzhi looked a little surprised. He didn't expect Yan Chengjin to have received an urgent report.

Qin Hong said, "The Ministry of War has already sent someone, you don't need to advise again."

Yan Chengjin fell into thought, it seems that His Majesty has already issued an order.

The Ming Navy has never fought with the French, and the French warships at this time have already installed cannons.

The French warships are lying on the sea, facing the Ming warships from the side, and they can sink the ships.

One man guards the pass, and ten thousand men cannot open it, and there is no chance to land.

Ten years later, the Portuguese fleet captured Macau, using the French cannon.

It can be inferred that the French cannons have been improved to be very powerful.

The emperor has the power of heaven, and the order has been issued, and it must not be easily changed. How can he, a small censor, make His Majesty change his mind?

Yan Chengjin looked at the imperial case on the hall and thought carefully for a long time.

Emperor Hongzhi and Liu Jian and others were a little unhappy. This boy asked to see His Majesty, and after entering the door, he stood in the hall without saying a word.

"Why do you want to see me?"

"Who will the Ministry of War send?" Yan Chengjin asked.

"Xiong Su, the general of the Guangdong Navy, is your family going to recommend Wang Shouren to me again?"

Yan Chengjin said cautiously: "Wang Shouren may not be more familiar with ship combat than Xiong Su.

I just want to ask Your Majesty to go to Hainan again in two months."

Wang Shouren may not have experience in commanding a fleet, and his strategies are useless in front of the fleet's artillery.

The French are good at artillery, and if they send a fleet south, they will be completely destroyed...

Emperor Hongzhi said confidently: "It's just the French, your family doesn't need to worry too much."

Liu Jian and Qin Hong nodded slightly. This kid dared to go out only when he was protected by the Jinyiwei.

If he waited two months, Hainan would have been occupied by the French.

Liu Jian was good at deducing the progress of things. He shook his head and said, "We can't wait two months. Hainan has fallen into the hands of the French."

The memorial had already warned of the emergency, and it would take more than a month for the fleet to go south.

Emperor Hongzhi nodded: "Now is the harvest time. I am afraid that the autumn grain will fall into the hands of the French."

Your Majesty's words reminded him that the Portuguese fleet needed supplies.

If Hainan can be captured as a granary, I am afraid that the Strait of Malacca will be taken faster.

"I don't think so. Hainan has a wide terrain. The French have no advantage when they land.

Your Majesty rashly sent ships south, which is dangerous."

Emperor Hongzhi pondered for a moment and asked, "What do you want to do in two months?"

Yan Chengjin raised his head slightly, his eyes obviously fell on Emperor Hongzhi, and he showed an earnest expression: "I will bring disaster to myself. Your Majesty, please pardon me first."

Liu Jian and Qin Hong showed disgusted expressions. It wouldn't cost them their heads to say a word.

However, Yan Chengjin didn't care at all. Their heads were not on them.

Emperor Hongzhi also looked contemptuous, but he covered it up well: "Speak up, Mr. Yan, I won't blame you."

Yan Chengjin said solemnly: "Your Majesty, allow Liangxiang Shipyard to manufacture artillery."

The hall fell silent.

Emperor Hongzhi's body froze, staring at Yan Chengjin, without blinking for a long time.

Liu Jian turned his head in shock: "Why do you want to make artillery!"

"To deal with the French."

Emperor Hongzhi recovered: "Wang Gongchang has plenty of artillery, why do we need to make more? Don't you know that private weapons are not allowed to be made in the market?"

This is an iron rule to prevent the princes and rebels from rebelling.

Yan Chengjin said: "The cannon I want to build is to be placed on a ship. The recoil of the Red Barbarian General is so huge that it can even crack the wall. If it is placed directly on the ship, it may damage the hull.

And the Red Barbarian General will also explode, which will damage the hull.

Perhaps the engineers in Liangxiang can install it on the ship."

Wanggongchang is in the capital, and Qingjiang Shipyard is in Jiangnan. It takes more than ten days to get to Wanggongchang.

And there are only two large ships in the capital.

If the two large ships want to defeat the French fleet, they must be equipped with the Red Barbarian General.

Qin Hong said: "To deal with the French, the Guangdong Navy is enough. The French came from thousands of miles away, consumed a lot of food and grass, and their military preparations are not as good as our Ming Dynasty. I don't think they need the Red Barbarian General."

The analysis makes sense... However, in the battle in Macau, the Ming Dynasty suffered a great loss because it underestimated the French fleet.

Yan Chengjin said: "If the French have cannons on their ships, how will you deal with it?"

"How can the French have such powerful cannons." Liu Jian wondered.

The foreigners had already bought the Ming Dynasty's cannons through smuggling for research.

Maybe it was sold by the Zhang brothers.

Yan Chengjin did not say anything more to Liu Jian. He looked at Emperor Hongzhi eagerly and said, "Your Majesty?"

Emperor Hongzhi pondered for a moment. The Red Barbarian General could make a hole in the city wall. If he moved it to the ship, he could sink the entire warship.

It is feasible...

"Firearms cannot be manufactured in the market. This ban must not be lifted.

However, I can order the Ministry of Works to supervise the construction. Two months is too long. I know you have kept a lot of time. Let's change it to 20 days."

I am worried about the people in Hainan.

At this time, they must be in dire straits.

Yan Chengjin was worried. After 20 days, Song Jing and Xie Pi need to participate in the joint examination.

After the joint examination, it is the palace examination.

The two months are delayed because they want Song Jing to improve the warship after the joint examination.

Now that His Majesty only gives 20 days, Song Jing and Xie Pi will definitely not have enough time to do it.

With the level of those craftsmen in the Ministry of Works, they may not be able to do it.