Everyone present, after listening to Yi Bin's explanation, was full of expectations for this improved grenade.
"Well, not bad, show it to me!"
Jiajing turned his attention to the grenade in Yi Bin's hand and immediately gave instructions.
"Your Majesty, this..."
Hearing this, Yi Bin's face was full of embarrassment. After hesitating for a long time, he finally chose not to follow Jiajing's order.
"Really, there's so much nonsense, just bring it over if I ask you to!"
Jiajing ordered with an impatient look on his face.
"Your Majesty!"
Seeing that the emperor's attitude was extremely resolute, after hesitating for a long time, Yi Bin finally handed the grenade to Lu Fang, who then handed it to Jiajing.
Jiajing took the grenade from Lu Fang's hand and looked at it roughly.
Its overall structure is very different from what Yi Bin mentioned before. There is a slight gap at the top of the iron sheet filled with black gunpowder, and a long lead extends out.
Jiajing held the grenade in his hand, roughly weighed the weight, then turned his eyes to Yi Bin and said.
"Well, the weight is probably about right, but I don't know how powerful it is?"
After Jiajing finished speaking, he handed the grenade to Lu Fang who was standing aside, and Lu Fang put it back in its place.
But the moment he put the grenade back into place, Lu Fang was obviously relieved.
"Your Majesty, I have already made relevant preparations and can carry out experiments at any time. Please come here!"
After Yi Bin finished speaking, he led the way in front of him. Everyone followed his steps and arrived at the testing site together.
As the chief minister of the cabinet, Yan Song naturally has a unique vision. He knows that if this kind of weapon can be mass-produced, the combat effectiveness of the Ming Dynasty's army will reach a higher level!
By then, Ming Dynasty will be able to take a huge advantage in confronting the nomads by relying on this new weapon.
Let me ask, when the two sides lined up and prepared to fight with real swords and guns, the Ming army threw countless powerful grenades at the enemy without saying a word.
I'm afraid that before the two sides formally engage in battle, most of the enemy's effective forces will be consumed in advance!
At this moment, Yi Bin's voice was heard, interrupting Yan Song's thoughts.
"Your Majesty, this is the testing ground for grenades!"
"You can start the experiment at any time!"
As soon as Yi Bin finished speaking, several craftsmen came forward carrying a basket of grenades.
"Well, let's get started!"
After Jiajing took stock of the surrounding environment, he nodded and gave the order.
As soon as he finished speaking, the craftsmen picked up the grenade, lit the fuse with a fire stick, and then threw it out with force.
I saw the grenade draw an arc in mid-air. The moment it fell to the ground, I heard a loud "boom" and exploded violently. The iron sand in it flew everywhere, with the impact point of the grenade as the center of the circle. , spread out in all directions and became deeply embedded in the soil.
A crater was left in the center of the explosion, and the air was filled with a pungent smell of burning gunpowder that could not dissipate for a long time.
After reading the results of the experiment, Jiajing was quite satisfied. He immediately turned his eyes to Yi Bin and asked.
"Well, not bad, the improved grenade is powerful and easy to throw!"
"Can it be mass produced?"
Seeing this, Yi Bin quickly stepped forward and said respectfully.
"Your Majesty, the technology is now relatively mature. Coupled with the suggestions you made earlier, the cost of manufacturing grenades has been greatly reduced, and mass production can be carried out."
After listening to Yi Bin's report, Jiajing nodded and gave the order.
"Well, next, your Arms Department will make a report and submit it to the Ministry of Accounts, and let them allocate the money!"
Hearing this, Yi Bin's face was filled with excitement, and he immediately responded in a deep voice.
"As you command, Your Majesty!"
After Jiajing finished giving instructions to Yi Bin, he immediately turned his attention to Xu Jie and gave instructions.
"Your department of household affairs must allocate the money as soon as possible without delay!"
Seeing this, Xu Jie responded with a heartbroken expression.
"Your Majesty, the Ministry of Revenue will allocate the required silver as soon as possible!"
Jiajing took in the expression on Xu Jie's face and quickly added.
"Previously, Yan Maoqing, who I sent out to collect the salt tax, came back and collected fifteen million taels of salt tax for the court!"
"In addition, Tan Lun in Fujian also seized silver taels during the suppression of bandits, totaling 23.82 million taels. At present, all this silver has been confiscated into the national treasury!"
"Right now, the national treasury has received almost 40 million taels of silver, and what it has spent is just a drop in the bucket."
Seeing this, Xu Jie had no choice but to bow his head and say yes.
When Jiajing said this, he suddenly turned his gaze to Yan Song aside and asked immediately.
"By the way, Mr. Yan Ge, how did you do with the things I asked you to do earlier?"
"Your Majesty is talking about the renovation of the treasure ship?"
Upon seeing this, Yan Song cautiously confirmed to Jiajing.
After Jiajing heard this, he nodded and continued.
"Well, yes, that's what I'm talking about. How is the progress so far?"
When Yan Song heard this, he instantly relaxed. After finishing his words, he responded.
"Your Majesty, everything is progressing smoothly so far. Since we have detailed drawings, the renovation work of the treasure ship is also in full swing. It is conservatively estimated that all the renovations can be completed within a month at the latest!"
After hearing Yan Song's report, Jiajing didn't say much, just nodded and said slowly.
"Well, you did a good job on this matter!"
After Jiajing finished speaking, after looking around, he turned his gaze to Yan Song and Xu Jie, and said with a half-smile.
"I have an idea and would like to seek your opinions."
Seeing this situation, Yan Song and Xu Jie suddenly became nervous, and immediately responded anxiously.
"Your Majesty, please speak!"
When Jiajing saw this, he immediately looked away from the two of them and spoke word by word.
"I want to rebuild the Shenji Camp!"
"What!"
Yan Song and Xu Jie couldn't help but exclaimed when they heard this.
Later, I saw Yan Song mustering up the courage and admonishing Jiajing.
"Your Majesty, isn't there a Shenji Battalion stationed near the capital? Why do you still..."
Before Yan Song finished speaking, he was coldly interrupted by Jiajing.
"Yan Song, I'm afraid you know the specific situation better than I do. Today's Shenji Camp is just an empty frame!"
"As the Shenji Battalion, I am responsible for guarding the capital internally and preparing for external battles!"
"But now, due to the long-term depletion of military equipment, their combat effectiveness is far inferior to that of the soldiers in Zhejiang."
"Therefore, I plan to select brave men to rebuild the Shenji Camp!"
"What do you think?"
After Jiajing finished speaking, he glanced at Yan Song and Xu Jie one by one, and then asked.
"Your Majesty, I believe that rebuilding Shenji Camp is a major national matter and should not be decided hastily!"
"Therefore, Wei Chen proposed that this matter be discussed at the next cabinet meeting. Your Majesty, please see..."
At this moment, Xu Jie stood up and asked Jiajing.
After listening to Xu Jie's proposal, Jiajing pondered for a moment and said slowly.
"Well, in that case, let's put this matter to the next cabinet meeting for discussion."
"Your Majesty, Holy Might!"
Immediately afterwards, Yan Song and Xu Jie looked at each other and said in unison.
(End of chapter)
