Second Artillery Bureau.
Lu An, the chief of the Gunpowder Department, Deng De, the chief of the Artillery Department, and Tang Jia, the chief of the Guns Division, gathered together. More than ten people including Lu Yuan, Feng Shan, Zhang Jiu, Hu Dong, Tao Zengguang, and other teachers from the Second Artillery Bureau came.
Lu An had a gloomy face and was the first to speak: "Tao Zengguang wrote a letter asking the emperor to release Hu Yuancheng, the son of Hu Jiya of Annan, and put him in the Second Artillery Bureau. What do you think?"
Hu Dong was a little worried, so he stood up and saluted the palm seal, and then bowed his hand to Tao Zengguang: "Hu Yuancheng is the son of Hu Jiya after all, and the court must kill Hu Jiya. Isn't it dangerous to kill his father and use his son?" , once he has other intentions and finds a loophole to destroy the Second Artillery Bureau, we will have no way to report to the court..."
It is not an exaggeration to say that one person destroyed the Second Artillery Bureau. You must know that the Gunpowder Department reserves a large amount of granular gunpowder. Once it is ignited, the entire Gunpowder Department may disappear.
Hu Yuancheng is an enemy. If he comes, isn't it like inviting a wolf into the house?
Zhang Jiu also expressed concern: "Hu Yuancheng is an enemy and should not be placed in the Second Artillery Bureau. Even if he comes, who would dare to trust him or use him?"
"I!"
Tao Zengguang stood up.
Everyone looked at Tao Zengguang, and the teachers stopped talking.
Now Tao Zengguang is an important figure in the Second Artillery Bureau. The emergence of the Tiger Crouching Artillery has made his identity and status extremely important. Although he declined the promotion and did not want to deal with paperwork or logistics and devoted himself to studying firearms, his words still remain Very substantial.
Tao Zengguang looked at the three palm prints and said seriously: "How the Second Artillery Bureau's new divine machine gun came into being, you know better than me. Hu Yuancheng is a firearms genius. If such a genius can be used by the Second Artillery Bureau, it will be great for the Second Artillery Bureau." Firearms research is of great benefit.”
Deng De looked deeply at Tao Zengguang and moved his mouth: "The question lies here, can he be used by the Second Artillery Bureau? The Ming Dynasty destroyed everything about him and will definitely kill his relatives. Do you think he can still be used by us?" Does Daming serve?"
Tao Zengguang nodded: "Yes, he must have hatred, but instead of killing him, we gave him a chance to achieve his goals and a stage to display his talents. Don't he cherish it?"
"What we are worried about is that after he enters the Second Artillery Bureau, he will cause damage to the Second Artillery Bureau."
Tang Jia expressed his stance.
Lu An saw that there was no result if this argument continued, so he reconciled: "Okay, let's not discuss this matter anymore. Since the news has been handed over to the emperor, we will just follow the emperor's arrangements."
Everyone nodded. Indeed, there was no point in arguing here. The one who really decided Hu Yuancheng's life or death was Zhu Yunzhen.
Just when Lu An was about to let everyone go about their business, the chamberlain in the palace came and said: "The emperor summons the three palm seals and Tao Zengguang to enter the Wuying Palace."
Wuying Palace.
Zhu Yunwen sent the final reward document to the cabinet. After the cabinet determined that there was nothing wrong, he would draft an edict accordingly. The intensity of the reward this time was far greater than that of the Hongwu period, and the Ministry of Household Affairs had to allocate 1.6 million taels for this purpose.
300,000 soldiers, 1.6 million taels of rewards, evenly divided, is a little more than 5 taels of silver. Of course, the average number that really falls on the heads of the big soldiers is only more than 3 taels of silver. Fortunately, this is only the reward part, Huhu The Ministry will also use 2 million taels of money paid by merchants to fully subsidize the lower-level generals and sergeants.
Even so, the reward for a sergeant was only twelve taels, which seemed very low. The court only gave such a small amount of silver for risking one's life to fight a battle.
But if you compare the rewards during the Hongwu period, you will find that Zhu Yunwen is already a man of great grace.
For example, Zhu Yuanzhang once rewarded the victorious sergeants, not to mention the first-level general Xu Da, just looking at the bottom level, the general flag received three shi and platinum three liang, the small flag received three shi and platinum three liang, and the ordinary soldier received three shi.
Three stones of rice, converted into silver taels, is less than two taels of silver.
The rewards given by Zhu Yunwen have been six times more than those during Lao Zhu's time...
As for the sergeants who died in battle, they will be compensated according to the new army's policy. The imperial court is very strict in this regard, and even reached a consensus among the soldiers. Whoever dares to embezzle the pension funds will be everyone's mortal enemy sooner or later. The kind that kills.
In addition, the Chamber of Commerce of Heroes will also pay a pension and visit the families of military personnel from time to time. Once it is found that the pension is missing, the matter will be brought directly to King Liao and King Min. If it is brought to the two kings, it will naturally be brought to Zhu Yunwen. .
Even without these, it is estimated that no one will take action on pensions in the past two years. The Fifth Army Governor's Office gathered a group of officers who embezzled pensions and usurped sergeants' farmland. They were all dealt with like the autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves. Even Hongwu Some of the hereditary generals during the period did not show any mercy, and they were all dealt with and sent to Liaodong to farm, numbering as many as 1,600 people.
This kind of thing was done in a big way, but it didn't attract many people's attention. By the time the court officials reacted, those people had already arrived outside the customs.
Actions within the guardhouse have nothing to do with other officials.
Zhu Yunwen wanted to completely abolish the military garrisons, but the current material foundation and wealth were not enough to achieve this step, so he had to reach out to the generals to ensure that the sergeants had garrisons instead of the generals and garrisons. This was to delay the system of guard posts. A necessary means of collapse.
After dealing with a large number of borers, it will take some time for new borers to grow out.
The chamberlain informed that people from the Second Artillery Bureau had arrived, and Lu An, Tao Zengguang and others entered the palace to salute.
Zhu Yunwen asked the four of them to stand up, took out the letter from Tao Zengguang, and asked: "Tao Zengguang wants Hu Yuancheng, what do you think?"
Lu An, Deng De, and Tang Jia looked at each other, and finally Lu An came out: "Your Majesty, the ministers and others have discussed this matter. Hu Yuancheng is indeed a man with great talent for large-scale weapons. It would be a pity to kill him. Once he is Being able to be used by the Second Artillery Bureau will definitely help the iteration of firearms, but I am also worried that it will harbor hatred and harm the Second Artillery Bureau."
Zhu Yunwen chuckled: "So, Tao Zengguang, you didn't even convince the people from the Second Artillery Bureau."
Tao Zengguang shook his head helplessly: "The human heart is the most unpredictable, I just cherish his talent."
Zhu Yunwen stood up and walked towards Tao Zengguang and others, and said seriously: "Since you all think that Hu Yuancheng is a talent, I will give you a chance. He is now in the Zongren Mansion. It depends on whether you can convince him to really work for the Second Artillery Bureau. It's yours. As for whether he will harm the Second Artillery Bureau, haha, I thought that with you here, he wouldn't cause too much trouble. If not, give him a small island to specialize in firearms research."
"I obey your orders."
Lu An, Tao Zengguang and others breathed a sigh of relief.
Now that Zhu Yunwen has come to a conclusion, all that's left is to convince Hu Yuancheng.
Zongren Mansion, specially built prison.
Hu Jiya, Hu Hancang and others have already reached their death date, which is two days after the imperial reward is issued. In other words, they still have three days to live.
What is it like to wait for death?
Hu Jiya was crying all day long. Hu Hancang seemed to be ill and his body was shaking from time to time.
No one wants to die. Every time you take a breath or open your eyes, you are closer to death. This is the ultimate torture.
Hu Jima thought of his glorious years in Annan and how many people had fallen in front of him. But now, he had nothing and everything, and he had to face death.
Strength is just a disguise, and few people can be calm and calm when facing death. Hu Jisao was once considered a hero, but at this moment, he is just a person who wants to live, nothing more.
However, Zhu Yunwen would not give him a chance to live.
Tao Zengguang ignored Hu Jiya and Hu Hancang, and walked straight over. Looking at Hu Yuancheng who was calm in the prison, he ordered someone to open the cell door and bring food and wine.
Hu Yuancheng raised his head and looked at Tao Zengguang who walked in. He had no official uniform and no official aura, and he couldn't help but frown slightly.
Tao Zengguang didn't speak until the simple food and drinks were arranged, then he asked people to step away and said: "You are Hu Yuancheng, a famous person whom I have admired for a long time. If you don't mind, we can have a drink."
Hu Yuancheng stood up and walked over, sat down without fear, poured a glass of wine, drank it all, and sighed: "Good wine!"
"Aren't you afraid that the wine is poisonous?"
Tao Zengguang was a little curious.
Hu Yuancheng glanced at Tao Zengguang with contempt: "If it were an official, he would never ask such a stupid question, who are you? Why are you here?"
Tao Zengguang thought about it for a while. These people were going to be beheaded anyway. Who would take the unnecessary step in advance and poison them to death...
"I am a craftsman, a craftsman from the Second Artillery Bureau."
Tao Zengguang said seriously.
Hu Yuancheng narrowed his eyes and looked at Tao Zengguang carefully: "I have witnessed the power of Daming firearms with my own eyes. It is not an exaggeration to describe the power of Daming firearms as destroying the world. Your sergeant told me that nearly 100,000 people were killed or injured in Duobang City. Under Firearms, that’s all true, right?”
Tao Zengguang nodded: "As far as I know, it's true."
Hu Yuancheng was a little sad and said sadly: "They are all elite soldiers, so they died under firearms. It is really..."
"I do not think so!"
Tao Zengguang interrupted Hu Yuancheng's words, and then said seriously: "In order to hunt and survive, people first used stones, then they had bows and arrows, weapons, armor, and then firearms. In my opinion, people die with firearms. There is no difference between being killed and dying by the sword. In war, no matter what the means, as long as you can win, even if you bite with your teeth, there is nothing to criticize!"
Hu Yuancheng knew this, took a sip of wine, and asked, "I'm going to die, but I still have a question that remains unanswered."
Tao Zengguang said nothing. He knew what Hu Yuancheng would say next.
Hu Yuancheng spoke up: "I really want to know what the secret of the Daming Firearms is and why it has such powerful lethality. You are from the Second Artillery Bureau and you know all this, right?"
Tao Zengguang nodded and raised his glass: "If you want to know the secret of the Daming Firearms, I can tell you. But in exchange, I need you to pay some price."
"The price? Haha, I don't even have my life left, what else can you take from me? Are you just looking for my happiness?"
Hu Yuancheng shook his head bitterly.
