After taking care of Liu Yuanqing, Zuo Mengeng reported the matter to Zhang Jimeng.
Zhang Jimeng didn't have much surprise, he just asked: "Is Liu Yuanqing reliable?"
Zuo Mengeng did not answer directly.
"Silver is more reliable."
Zhang Jimeng nodded and said with a smile: "This is better."
Yes, giving money to those who love money is actually much easier to deal with than those who are not greedy.
Zhang Jimeng asked with concern: "You want to reorganize the rear camp, do you have the sources of troops?"
Zuo Mengeng nodded, having already thought about it.
"The project at the dock will be completed sooner or later, and it will be troublesome if so many refugees are not managed."
Zhang Jimeng put his hands on his hands and laughed.
"Previously, the Qu Ming Mansion was still complaining, saying that when the dock is completed, these refugees will become a hidden danger again. If he knows about your plan, he will be overjoyed."
Zuo Mengeng has long been eyeing these refugees.
At that time, what he was thinking about was to find an opportunity to drag the refugees to a sparsely populated place and hide them to train troops.
But Lu Xi was flat and didn't know where to choose.
Now that he has become President Qian and has a legitimate identity, it is even more convenient.
"These refugees were originally wandering without food, with sallow complexions and thin muscles, and were not of much use. During this period, they worked at the docks. The hard work was a bit hard, but they could eat well every day and their bodies gradually recovered. This is the best source of soldiers, and it is even more difficult. So controllable.”
After the Chaoguan Pier is completed, the refugees will lose their jobs again. After eating enough during this period, they must be worried about their future lives.
If Zuo Mengeng comes forward to recruit troops, these people will gladly answer the call.
But he came to see Zhang Jimeng not just for recruiting troops.
"Uncle Zhang, it won't be a problem to form an army in the rear. The difficulty lies in the weapons. We still need to find a way to solve it."
Not only are the people in the rear camp now gone, but the weapons and equipment are also gone.
Zhang Jimeng gave the green light here.
"After taking inventory of the treasury these days, Linqing Association's weapons are quite sufficient. Whatever you need, just go back and check it out and report it."
Zuo Mengeng was not happy, but hesitant to speak.
"Why, what's wrong?"
Zuo Mengeng gritted his teeth and decided to give it a try. If it doesn't work out, nothing will be lost.
"In my nephew's opinion, those bows, crossbows, swords and guns are actually of little use. Regardless of their quality, even if they are high-quality, they will be of little use on the battlefield in the future. If you want to strengthen your army, you must have muskets and artillery."
Zhang Jimeng was stunned for a moment, then frowned.
"This is difficult. The Linqing Association is responsible for the deployment of firearms by the Ministry of War."
He added: "Furthermore, your father is originally the commander of the chariot camp. It's not like you have never seen firearms. Why do you care so much?"
Zuo Menggeng argued: "Uncle, please think about it. Bows and arrows have been used as far back as the pre-Qin era. How is the range and power different today than at that time? Firearms are different. Firearms were invented in the Song Dynasty, when they were no more than thirty years old. A single step cannot penetrate armor. But today, it is common to kill someone a hundred steps away. I'm afraid that the power of firearms will still be sufficient in the future."
Zhang Jimeng doesn't see it that way.
"Even if firearms can shoot farther, armor penetration is sharper. But the loading of firearms is cumbersome, and it only takes two shots on the battlefield. I have read the report in the capital. The Liaodong armies use firearms except Folang. Except for the machine guns and the red-coat cannons, the rest were complaining and unwilling to use them."
Regarding this, Zuo Mengeng can say too much.
"The reason why the Liaodong armies were unwilling to use firearms was not because they were bad. It was because there were too many tricks in them, which would cause great harm to the country and the people. The imperial court issued Liaodong's muskets, but it was so crazy that only one of the two wrought iron guns was left. This kind of musket cannot be used at all. , once fired, the barrel will explode. Before hurting the enemy, it hurts itself first, so that the soldiers abandoned it and would rather use swords and guns than muskets."
Corruption was rampant in the late Ming Dynasty, and the military was the hardest hit area.
It is common to eat empty pay, drink soldiers' blood, and treat soldiers as domestic servants. Corruption in weapons and equipment is the most outrageous.
When Zuo Mengeng was in Liaodong, he saw with his own eyes that the muskets received by the firearms camp had barrels as thin as cicada wings and as light as paper.
An experienced veteran weighs it in his hand and throws it away without using it.
In the manufacture of muskets in the late Ming Dynasty, the barrels were rolled and forged.
Roll two pieces of red-hot wrought iron into a cylinder, and then beat them continuously. The outer layer wraps the inner layer to become a gun barrel.
The reason why two sheets of wrought iron are used is to ensure strength.
But the corrupt officials of the Arms Bureau secretly reduced the two pieces of wrought iron into one piece. The rolled and forged gun barrel can even be cut with a sharp sword.
When such a weapon is put on the battlefield, it is just a trap.
This was the first time Zhang Jimeng knew such a thing, and he was inexplicably shocked.
“Has the corruption of military and political affairs already reached this point?”
Zuo Mengeng nodded slightly.
"So, the defeat of Liaodong was not due to lack of strategy, but to internal corruption."
Zhang Jimeng sighed, his heart heavy.
Originally, he had some doubts about Hou Xun, Liu Zongzhou and others hinting that they would fully support Zuo Mengeng.
Hearing the truth at this time made him a little firmer.
"In that case, why do you insist on asking for firearms?"
Zuo Mengeng smiled.
"My nephew will never dare to use the firearms made by the imperial court. But what if we can make the firearms ourselves? If there is no corruption and sufficient materials are used, the firearms will be sharp weapons."
Zhang Jimeng thought he was a bit fanciful at first, but after thinking about it carefully, he found that it could really be done.
In the early Ming Dynasty, the control of firearm casting was very strict, and no casting was allowed except by the Ordnance Bureau and the Staff Bureau.
But later, especially after the Jiajing Dynasty, with the increase in the number of troops in various places, the manufacturing and transportation of firearms became a big problem.
First, the transportation of firearms from the capital to various places was long and expensive, which greatly increased the burden on the court.
Secondly, the quality of the firearms manufactured by the imperial court was so poor that the armies did not like to use them.
In view of the actual situation, the imperial court gradually relaxed restrictions on firearms manufacturing. All local health stations and government offices can apply to the court to establish weapons stations when necessary.
The most famous Qi Jiajun used firearms made by themselves.
Originally, in a peaceful land like the Qing Dynasty, the imperial court would not approve the application to establish a weapons station.
However, the incident at Chaoguan Wharf caused heavy losses to the Linqing garrison, and reconstruction was imperative.
Furthermore, as civil unrest increased in Shandong and Jifu, it was imperative to use troops, and naturally the need for weapons also skyrocketed.
At this time, it is not difficult to declare to the court, and given the situation between North Korea and China, it is not difficult to get permission.
Zhang Jimeng thought this through and nodded silently, telling Zuo Mengeng that the matter was left to him.
However, he felt that he had better wake up to Zuo Mengeng's belief in firearms.
"Even if we make our own firearms, the quality is not bad. But the firearms fire slowly and may be miraculous against infantry, but if we encounter a strong cavalry force, it will be difficult to resist."
Zuo Mengeng smiled.
"Uncle, I don't know. Today, my nephew is thinking of a way to increase the rate of fire of firearms."
"What did you say?"
Zhang Jimeng suddenly stood up and looked over in disbelief.
"Do you have a way to increase the rate of fire of firearms? Young people should not be ashamed of themselves. This matter is not a joke."
If you want to do something now, you must get Zhang Jimeng's support. Zuo Mengeng had no choice but to take out something, although he was not sure whether Zhang Jimeng could understand it.
Asking for a pen and paper, Zuo Mengeng only spent a short time drawing the structural diagram of the flintlock gun on it.
"Uncle, please see, this gun does not use a match rope to ignite the powder, but uses flint to trigger it. In this way, the charging step is greatly simplified. In addition, without a match rope, the impact of rain and fog is also reduced a lot, and the application of firearms More convenient."
Zhang Jimeng was almost lying on the table, looking at the sketch drawn by Zuo Mengeng with all his concentration. Later, he used his fingers to trace the graphics bit by bit. The more he looked at it, the more excited he became.
"It's so... it's so... why didn't you think of it?"
Seeing that he had some demonic obstacles, Zuo Mengeng couldn't help but feel nervous.
"uncle……"
Zhang Jimeng came back to his senses, his face flushed, and his breathing became even more rapid.
"The weapons department matter should be done quickly. Such sharp weapons must be produced as soon as possible."
Seeing that Zhang Jimeng finally gave his full support, Zuo Mengeng was very happy and decided to add more chips.
"Actually, this flintlock gun is just mediocre. My nephew still has some ideas. If it can be made, the musket can have a range of 500 steps and reload three times faster."
Zhang Jimeng looked at him as if he were a god, and his voice trembled even more.
"Is it really okay?"
Zuo Mengeng did not guarantee it, but said: "There are some key points. My nephew will need some time to prepare. As long as it succeeds, such a firearm can be made."
Zhang Jimeng was actually very concerned about firearms and asked hurriedly: "What do you need?"
Zuo Mengeng was not polite either.
"Craftsmen. Iron smelters and gun makers are all needed. They must also have suitable sites and tools."
Zhang Jimeng thought about it and said, "In this case, weapons are indispensable."
He said to Zuo Mengeng: "I immediately wrote a memorial and submitted it. With the help of Duke Ruogu and others, there should be no problem in the court's approval."
Zuo Menggeng was overjoyed and thanked him quickly, and went back to prepare for the affairs of the rear camp.
It was late at night, and Zhang Jimeng was still in a daze after writing the memorial.
After thinking for a while, he took the paper again and started writing.
[Teacher Jun Jian, his student met a wizard who made tools in Linqing, and he said...]
Over a cup of tea, the letter was written.
Zhang Jimeng put it in an envelope, called the servant, and gave detailed instructions.
"When you send this letter to She County, you must personally hand it into the hands of your mentor. There is no room for error."
The servant accepted the order and did not dare to delay, so he went overnight.
